Her guards

Chapter 12 Entering Zhao County

Since we need to get to Zhao County to settle down, we can't keep waiting for the rain to stop.

Firstly, people and horses cannot be exposed to rain for a long time. Secondly, the roads become even more muddy after the rain stops, making it difficult for carriages to move.

Yang Luo agreed to listen to Mo Zheng's explanation, so when the rain subsided a little, Mo Zheng wrapped himself in a rain tarp and sat outside, urging the horse to pull the carriage forward.

After a day and a night of travel, stopping frequently, the city of Zhao County came into view.

By this time, it was already broad daylight, but almost no one was going in or out of the city gate of Zhao County.

Yang Luo lifted the carriage curtain and looked out, somewhat puzzled: "I remember the servants at home saying that Zhao County is bigger and more prosperous than Lu County. How come it looks so desolate and deserted?"

Mo Zheng also looked somewhat puzzled. When they arrived at the city gate, she got out of the carriage and asked a gate guard who looked like he hadn't slept well, "Sir, can we enter the city now?"

The city gate guard snapped out of his daze. Instead of ignoring him or yelling "Get out!", he smirked as if to say, "Go ahead and come in if you dare."

Dare? That's an odd use of the word.

"I saw almost no one, so I thought we weren't allowed to enter," Mo Zheng explained. "We're too tired from our journey, so we'll go into town tonight and find an inn to rest properly."

Hearing this, Yang Luo, who had been hiding in the car, slightly lifted the curtain and said timidly, "I'm fine, why don't we continue on our way?"

The city gate guard looked at the pale, thin girl with a pointed face inside the car and curled his lip: "Don't get scared when you go in."

Mo Zheng looked like she didn't understand, and without asking any more questions, she led the horse and the carriage through the city gate.

As soon as he passed through the city gate, he knew why the gatekeeper had said that.

"Miss," he said in a low voice, "get in the car quickly..."

But it was too late to say that. Yang Luo, who was about to discuss finding an inn with Mo Zheng by lifting the carriage curtain, immediately saw a row of... corpses on the wide street next to the city gate.

The corpses were all covered with white sheets, and figures could be seen through the sheets. They were of different sizes and were both male and female. Although I was in shock, I still subconsciously counted them. There were fifteen corpses in total.

Although more people died in the disaster in Baima Town, Yang Luo never returned to Baima Town after escaping that night, nor did he ever see the corpses with his own eyes.

Although covered with a white sheet, the wind blew it up to reveal the corpse's hands and feet, and a putrid stench filled the air.

These corpses had been dead for who knows how long; their hands and feet were already rotting.

Yang Luo grabbed the carriage curtain and leaned down, gagging as tears streamed down her face.

Mother, is your body like this after you die?
No, Ah Sheng said his mother was burned to death, burned to death, she was no longer human.

"Miss……"

Seeing Yang Luo like this, a hint of apology flashed in Mo Zheng's eyes. She turned around to pat her and comfort her, but two people who were shuffling past the corner of the street saw this and hurriedly reminded her, "Stop patting, hurry up and leave." "Little girl, if you stay any longer you'll be scared out of your wits."

Upon hearing this, Mo Zheng urged the horse on. The horse neighed and galloped forward. The sudden jolt caused Yang Luo to fall back into the carriage, and the carriage quickly drove away from there.

……

.......
Although Zhao County was not as bustling as it used to be, there were still people walking on the streets, and two tables of guests were eating in the inn. The waiter stood idly at the door. When he saw the carriage stop, the young man helped a pale, weak girl with tears still on her face off the carriage and immediately went to greet her with sympathy.

"From outside?" he asked.

Mo Zheng nodded.

The shop assistant sighed and called out to the inside, "Fourth brother, bring a bowl of calming soup."

One of the shop assistants responded.

"No need to trouble yourself," Yang Luo said weakly.

"It's no trouble at all. It's not just you who needs it; everyone needs it. Right now, everyone in Zhao County is terrified," a shop assistant said, carrying a bowl of calming soup. "Every household has some on hand."

Mo Zheng thanked her and helped Yang Luo sit down. Yang Luo then took the calming soup and drank it in small sips.

She cannot get sick; she must get better. Her life is also her mother's life, and she cannot let her mother's tragic death be in vain.

Mo Zheng was relieved to see that although her complexion was still not good, her eyes were brighter. She turned to the shop assistant and asked, "What happened to those things?"

The shop assistant glanced cautiously outside and whispered, "The Jiang family from Chunliu Academy in our city has perished." Mo Zheng was puzzled: "Perished? They were the victims, why are their bodies left exposed at the city gate?"

Only the most heinous thieves were publicly displayed after their deaths; this was also a form of punishment.

Another shop assistant let out a sneer: "Because a high-ranking official from the capital said that Mr. Chiang is plotting a rebellion, he wants his whole family to be displayed at the city gate as a warning."

The other shop assistants quickly gestured to him, "Say less, do you want to be dragged away and paraded in public too?"

The shop assistant looked frightened, but still muttered under his breath, "Without any evidence, I think they're just framing the victim because they can't catch the perpetrator."

Yang Luo's expression was also somewhat strange. He wanted to say something, but was interrupted by Mo Zheng.

“Now that we’re here, let’s stay for the night,” he said, then turned to Yang Luo and asked, “Miss, shall I go and fetch a doctor?”

Yang Luo waved his hand: "No need, I'll rest for a bit and leave tomorrow, then I'll be fine."

The shop assistant could tell from their conversation that the boy was a servant and the girl was a young lady from the household, so he agreed and personally led the way, choosing a superior room and also giving them a nearby ordinary room so that the servant could be at his beck and call.

The young lady was pleased with the arrangement and instructed her servant, "Ah Sheng, give the waiter money for tea."

Mo Zheng then took out several large coins from her purse and stuffed them into the shop assistant's hand.

The shop assistant thanked him repeatedly and left, beaming with joy.

Yang Luo then asked Mo Zheng in a low voice, "Was the Jiang family also killed by bandits? It can't be that bad. They even took action against Zhao County to create a false impression for my daughter and me?"

Although she was a victim, she still felt it was too exaggerated.

Mo Zheng shook her head: "It should be a different case."

Yang Luo recalled the corpses from earlier; there were old and young, clearly indicating that the entire family had been killed.

"The world is so chaotic," she murmured softly.

She had never left home since she was a child, whether in Baima Town or in the capital. The only time she traveled was under the protection of the Duke of Ding'an's mansion, and she traveled safely and smoothly without seeing any villains or deaths.

“Yes, that’s why traveling isn’t easy,” Mo Zheng said. “Miss, now…”

He was about to persuade her not to go again, but Yang Luo interrupted him first: "Go and see if the horses are settled. We depend on them for our journey. Prepare some hay for them."

Mo Zheng smiled, pressed the bamboo pole in front of her, said "Yes, ma'am," and walked out without saying anything more.

Watching the door close, Yang Luo let out a soft sigh. Traveling was not easy, but Ah Sheng was there.

She needs him not only on the journey, but even more so when she arrives in the capital. She must not give him the chance to abandon her.

……

.......
As night fell, the inn became very quiet.

Yang Luo was already asleep, but her sleep was restless, with her brows furrowing from time to time and intermittent sobs.

Mo Zheng leaned down slightly and heard vague words in the sobs: "Don't kill me..." "Why kill me..." "Zhu Yunxiao..."

It seems she died in the story of the girl prophet as well.

Moreover, he didn't die in Baima Town, but in the capital.

Despite this, the girl resolutely headed towards the capital.

They certainly have a lot of guts.

Mo Zheng straightened up and gently pressed her hand on Yang Luo's neck.

Yang Luo tilted her head slightly, her tense body relaxed, her furrowed brows flattened, and she stopped sobbing.

That way I won't wake up in the middle of the night.

Mo Zheng turned to face outside, gently tapped the bamboo pole, and passed through the window, vaulting into the night.

(End of this chapter)