Her guards

Chapter 242 Talk by the Campfire
Mo Zheng stirred the campfire, and the newly added firewood crackled and popped.

Wei Cui took the wild rabbit off the fire, placed it on a few leaves to tear it apart, and then handed it over with a rabbit leg stuck in his dagger.

"Your Highness, please try it," he said with a smile.

Mo Zheng smiled and shook her head: "General, please forgive me, I do not eat other people's food."

Logically, to show his sincerity, he should have accepted and eaten it.

Wei Cui smiled, withdrew his hand, and took a bite: "Back then, when I escaped from Zhao Tan, on my way back to Longxi, I was starving. Occasionally, I could eat a wild rabbit, which I thought was the most delicious thing in the world."

Is starvation really suffering? The mother and child he used as bait and abandoned in the capital are enjoying fine wine and food in Zhao Tan's hands. Aren't they suffering? Mo Zheng said calmly, "The general can still eat his own food. All the hardships are not suffering."

Is he lamenting that his country is gone and he's eating other people's food? Wei Cui nodded: "Your Highness is right. Eating your own food is never bitter."

He tossed the rabbit meat, which he had only taken two bites of, aside.

He ate delicious food on his escape, but now it was inedible to him.

"Was it Miss Yang who persuaded Ajiao to come home today? It seems my son listens to Miss Yang without question."

"This Miss Yang even came to the city gate to see me off personally, and she was very reluctant to part with me."

He then laughed heartily.

"Your Highness has taught well."

Mo Zheng knew Wei Cui would come in person, and she wondered where he was hiding, spying on them. She now had to be wary of General Feng and Wei Jiao finding out that she was Prince Mo, and also of Wei Cui finding out that she was Miss Yang. It was going to be quite a show.

She couldn't help but laugh.

"It's actually very simple," she said with a smile, poking the campfire with a stick. "It's all about exchanging sincerity for sincerity."

Having said that, he looked at Wei Cui, too lazy to continue the conversation.

"General, I have accepted your sincerity in coming to Longxi in person. When will you show me your true intentions?"

Wei Cui reached into his sleeve and took out a booklet: "Your Highness, please take a look."

This time, the young prince wasn't worried about poisoning and readily accepted it.

Wei Cui continued, "This is the troop and supply register of Longxi."

The young prince approached the campfire and looked intently at it, his ashen face unable to conceal his joy.

Wei Cui smiled and said, "Your Highness can see that we are capable of fighting Deng Shan."

The young prince did not immediately offer a flattering reply. Instead, he carefully flipped to the last page, pondered for a moment, and then looked at Wei Cui with a sigh: "The General is the wealthiest person I have ever met in all these years."

Wei Cui stroked his beard and smiled arrogantly, then sighed softly: "These assets were originally prepared to get rid of Zhao Tan and restore the Mo family's empire, but unfortunately, that scoundrel Deng Shan seized the opportunity first. Fortunately, fortunately."

He looked at the young master with a sigh.

"It's not too late, the young prince is still here."

Mo Zheng smiled. He had been there earlier, under Zhao Tan's control, but he hadn't seen Wei Cui make any preparations or express any sentiments.

"What does the General plan to do?" she asked, pointing a piece of firewood in the direction of Qin'an City. "Will you take Qin'an City first during the wedding procession?"

Wei Cui shook his head: "Although the wedding procession is indeed a good opportunity, doesn't Deng Shan know that it is a good opportunity? Qin'an City will definitely be on high alert and is waiting for me to make my move."

Mo Zheng shook her head: "The General is too cautious. With such a substantial fortune, what's wrong with giving it a try?"

Wei Cui was not angry. He said kindly, "With such a strong family background, we must succeed in one strike. Your Highness, please don't be impatient. After the marriage is completed and Miss Yang enters Longxi, we can make plans slowly at home."

Although they had reached the borders of Longxi, they had not yet entered Longxi, nor had they entered the gates of the Wei family.

If he really made a move, and the little prince turned around and ran away, wouldn't he have lost out?
Mo Zheng smiled and didn't press the matter further.

"Although this marriage is made possible because of you and me, Miss Yang has indeed left the capital to marry into this family." She looked at Wei Cui and said softly, "Please, General, take this wedding seriously."

Is this what they call sincerity for sincerity? He genuinely cared about Miss Yang, which is why she listened to him so much? Wei Cui smiled: "Your Highness, rest assured."

He sighed deeply.

"Although it is an agreement between you and me, this is also my son Ajiao's wedding. This is a great joy for the Wei family and must be celebrated in a grand and respectable manner."

Mo Zheng untied the water pouch from his waist and poured water into the lid: "General, shall we first share a toast to celebrate?"

Looking at the bag lid handed to him by the young man, Wei Cui smiled and waved his hand: "Your Highness, please forgive me, I am old and frail and dare not drink water indiscriminately."

Prince Mo was worried about being poisoned and refused to eat the roasted meat he offered, and he was also worried that the prince might be poisoning him.

Mo Zheng laughed heartily and drank the water in the lid in one gulp.

Wei Cui laughed heartily and raised his hand in a salute.

“I’ll take my leave now. My son, Ajiao, is very spoiled. He’ll be angry if he doesn’t see me when he gets home,” he said. “I’ll stay home to welcome Your Highness.”

Mo Zheng smiled and returned the greeting: "Thank you for your hard work."

……

……

Wei Cui left.

The campfire quickly went out.

Mo Zheng sat in front of the campfire.

The figures that had been scattered in the night gradually gathered together.

"Young master," one of them asked in a low voice, "is there anything else?"

Mo Zheng snapped out of her daze and stood up: "No."

After saying that, he looked at the group of people.

"I will no longer appear as Prince Mo before the marriage. You all need to hide yourselves well. We are short-handed, so be careful."

Several people nodded in agreement.

Mo Zheng looked towards Wangyang Pass again.

She had never been to Longxi.

After initially suspecting that Wei Cui was the mastermind behind their assassination attempt, Uncle Hong and the others laid out a map of Longxi, which she examined carefully. Looking at the night sky, she seemed to picture Wei Jiao's swiftly moving figure before her eyes.

Judging by the distance, Wei Jiao should arrive at the Wei family home no later than the day after tomorrow.

I hope his journey is safe, and I hope he gets home... without feeling too heartbroken.

"Young Master," someone whispered again, "it's time to go back. The Yunyang Army is keeping a close watch on Miss Yang."

Although Miss Yang always wore a veil in front of General Feng, and General Feng had never seen Miss Yang's face, and there were also substitute maids in the mansion, although General Feng had accepted the imperial decree and would obey Miss Yang's orders in everything, if General Feng really found Miss Yang's behavior suspicious, there might be some trouble.

General Feng, after all, is the emperor's general, not Miss Yang's.

Mo Zheng naturally knew this as well, and nodded to the others after turning her gaze away.

"Walk."

The wedding is in ten days.

With many carriages, horses, dowry, and people, the journey would be slow; it would take three days to travel.

Then we can set off in seven more days.

Wei Jiao was to set off on the fifth day to fetch the bride.

Based on this calculation, Wei Jiao only needs to stay at home for three or four days.

Mo Zheng let out a soft breath.

They sped away into the night with light footsteps.

……

……

As the sun rose and set, accompanied by the blazing torches, the group passed through the city gate of Longxi Prefecture and arrived in front of a large house with undulating walls and roofs.

The mansion was brightly lit inside and out, with servants standing in rows, and seven or eight men and women dressed in fine clothes standing in front of the door.

Looking at the young people surrounded by women in embroidered robes, they showed no surprise, no awe, and no enthusiasm; their expressions were blank, and their eyes were filled with disdain.

"Please forgive me, Commandant Wei," said a man with a flushed face. "The General himself is at Longfu Temple praying for the wedding and has not yet returned."

“Ah Jiao, there’s no need for such formalities.” Another plump woman with a fair complexion spoke slowly. “My elder brother said that you can come and pay your respects when he returns.”

If one uses their official position to flaunt their power, the Grand General is not here.

The father, being magnanimous, temporarily exempted his son from paying his respects.

Whether from a moral or logical standpoint, they silenced Wei Jiao first.

Wei Jiao sat on his horse, his gaze sweeping over the people with a smile.

“Then I’ll wait for my father outside the door,” he said, “so that he can see me as soon as he sees me.”

After saying that, he raised his hand in a gesture.

"Dismount and set up the tent."

Dozens of embroidered-clad figures responded in unison, dismounting from their horses.

The men and women standing at the door were no longer as wooden as statues; their expressions varied.

"Ah Jiao, how can you be outside the door?"

"Come in quickly."

"How dignified!"

They all spoke.

"Shut up!" Wei Jiao shouted.

The sound was deep and resonant, like a boulder crashing down.

The voices of the man and woman at the door paused.

Wei Jiao, holding the riding crop, smiled and said, "Uncles and aunts, this is the Wei family mansion. My father isn't home, so as his son, I am the master of this house. You all..."

He pointed his riding whip at the crowd.

"Don't point fingers at me, or I'll suspect you're plotting to seize my family's property."

"I'm going to report this to the authorities!"

What crazy talk!
Alas, the people in front of the door all knew that this madman was capable of such a thing, and for a moment they were both angry and helpless, making the situation even more chaotic.

Seventh Master Wei stood behind without saying a word, gloating.

I told you, this little madman is even more insane than before. You can all understand how innocent he was when he was punished for his previous misdeeds.

……

……

Amidst the commotion, Wei Jiao sat on the ground, surrounded by women in embroidered robes.

When he got tired of sitting, he lay down and rested his head on his arm, looking at the night sky.

There's nothing particularly scenic about Longxi City.

Only the starry sky is truly beautiful.

We can take a look when that bastard arrives.

The wedding is in ten days.

The journey will take about three days.

He was going to pick up his bride, which was in five or six days.

Before she enters, these buzzing, annoying flies must be thoroughly punished to prevent them from disgusting her.

　I'll be going out tomorrow, so there will be no updates. Please don't wait.

　　(End of this chapter)