Her guards

Chapter 28 Finding a Place to Stay
"Miss, you're really lucky. This room just became available."

The broker enthusiastically introduced the place and led Yang Luo into an alley.

The alley was narrow, with only three households, and they all seemed uninhabited, covered in moss, making it seem like a completely different world from the bustling market not far away.

The broker led Yang Luo and Mo Zheng to the innermost room, opened the locked door, and revealed a small courtyard with three rooms, all exquisitely designed.

Yang Luo asked Mo Zheng, "What do you think? Do you like it?"

"Are you really going to give her this house?" Mo Zheng smiled and nodded. "It's convenient to go out because it's on the street, and it's quiet inside."

Moreover, the Duke of Ding'an's residence is just across the street, making it convenient to keep an eye on its movements while remaining hidden from detection. Yang Luo was quite satisfied with this.

The broker said, "Miss, the most important thing is the price. It's rare to find this price in the capital. You're so lucky; it was just released yesterday, and you came to inquire right away. If you had waited a few more days, it would have been snapped up."

She was indeed lucky. She thought she would have to search for several more days. She originally thought she should choose the largest brokerage firm, but the young hunter, who always believed in spending lavishly, chose a brokerage firm that didn't look very prosperous.
"Don't underestimate a seemingly insignificant dental clinic; it must have some skill to stay open."

The young hunter spoke as if he knew a lot about this.

She initially thought Ah Sheng was intimidated by the capital, but she never expected him to actually find it.

Yang Luo looked around and gestured to Mo Zheng, "Let's go with this one."

Mo Zheng responded, "Yes."

The broker happily led the two out, when suddenly a tall, bearded man in his thirties walked towards them in the alley, carrying a basket in his hand, inside which was a pig's head staring at them.

The broker Yang Luo was startled. The next moment, the door of a house opened and a woman came out.

"...Why is it taking so long to buy a pig's head? The braising liquid is almost gone."

This is a woman around thirty years old, and she's carrying a knife...
Yang Luo and Ya Ren subconsciously stopped in their tracks.

"Are these our new neighbors?" the woman asked with a smile as she saw them.

Mo Zheng hummed in agreement and gestured to Yang Luo, "Miss, let's go."

Yang Luo then hurriedly took a step forward, and the broker quickly followed. When they reached the alley entrance, he muttered to himself, "The one next door has also been rented out. I haven't heard anything about it."

Mo Zheng then whispered to Yang Luo, "Do you mind the neighbors? Should we move to another place?"

Yang Luo shook his head: "It would be better to have neighbors. In case of any trouble, we might be able to ask them for help."

Mo Zheng said "okay," and Yang Luo followed the broker. She lags behind by a step and turns back, seeing the couple who were talking at the door of the house also looking at them...

Mo Zheng turned her gaze away and walked onto the street.

After renting the house, cleaning the yard, and buying furniture, Yang Luo even wanted to go to a temple to burn incense and pray for blessings, but Mo Zheng stopped him.

“Miss, there’s only one chest of money, and more than half of it has already been spent,” he said. “Besides, you didn’t come to the capital to settle down. You should think about what you’re going to do next. Are you just going to keep an eye on the Ding’an Duke’s mansion on the streets?”

Yang Luo wasn't coming to the capital to rent a house and settle down; he simply wanted to make Mo Zheng's living situation more comfortable before the unfortunate end came.

Of course, for those who don't know the ending, this kind of thinking is inexplicable.

Yang Luo smiled, nodded and then shook his head: "I've already thought about what to do next, but it's not about keeping an eye on the Duke of Ding'an's mansion."

Mo Zheng asked curiously, "What are you doing?"

Yang Luo looked at the writing brush, ink, paper, inkstone, and several books laid out on the newly purchased desk.

"Study hard," she said.

……

.......
Night had fallen, and two of the three houses in the alley were lit up, giving it a slightly more lively feel.

Inside the house, the young lady lay asleep, her head resting on the table, a pen still clutched in her hand. In the neighboring house, two rooms had been combined; in one room, a chopping board stood where a couple was chopping meat and deboning, while in the other room, two stoves were burning brightly.

"Study hard?"

The woman quickly removed the meat from a bone, threw the bone into a large pot, and asked curiously.

"What is she going to do?"

Mo Zheng threw firewood into the two stove pits: "Five years ago, the emperor summoned learned scholars from all over the country to the capital to debate the classics. A year later, he established the National Academy, appointed Prince Qi of Qi as the chief priest, and hired five great Confucian scholars of the time to teach. Scholars from all over the country, regardless of their school of thought, age, or background, can enter the National Academy to study as long as they pass the exam. They will then be selected and granted official positions. The first batch of outstanding talents has already been selected and granted official positions. This year, we will have the second major exam."

Yang Luo did mention the National Academy, but he didn't actually know anything about its origins.

If she were there, she would be shocked that the young hunter knew so much.

However, the couple chopping meat indoors showed no surprise at all.

The bearded man stared in surprise: "She wants to take the exam too? Women can take the exam?"

Mo Zheng shook her head: "Women indeed cannot take the exam." Then she smiled and said, "But women can read."

She looked at the two of them.

"A while ago, the emperor wanted to send his three princesses to study at the Imperial Academy, so he needed to select study companions for them."

This was said by Yang Luo, and it comes from the source "The Prophet".

The man and the woman understood.

"Ah Sheng, you know so much." The woman praised, then glared at the bearded man. "Zhang Shengyou, you came to the capital completely clueless, you don't know anything."

The bearded man, Zhang Shengyou, chuckled and said, "I know I just need to protect Ah Sheng."

Peach Blossom muttered, "But Ah Sheng almost lost his life, and Mr. Jiang's whole family died too."

Zhang Shengyou did not refute this time, and his expression was somber.

A hint of melancholy flashed in Mo Zheng's eyes, then she said, "We'll definitely find out. I'm not dead yet. They'll come back again. When that happens..."

With a shout, Peach Blossom slammed the knife down on the cutting board, making a loud thud: "When the time comes, I'll chop them to death."

Although Zhang Shengyou didn't speak, his eyes were firm.

Mo Zheng smiled and nodded, no longer continuing the topic, and then said, "In short, the princesses need companions, and powerful families all want to send their daughters. In order to be fair and to select truly talented companions for the princesses, His Majesty has ordered the National Academy to hold an examination."

Peach Blossom said, "So Miss Yang has to take this exam to become the princess's companion." Then she frowned, "But how can Miss Yang take the exam? Isn't she supposed to be hiding her identity?"

Although the National Academy allows scholars from all over the world to study there, it doesn't mean that just anyone on the street can enter. One needs to have a clean background, a name, and a lineage.

When the emperor selects a companion for the princess, he is naturally more rigorous. How could someone with no name, surname, or unknown background be allowed to join?

Mo Zheng nodded: "The princess sent out invitations in advance for the selection of her study companions. In addition to the powerful and wealthy families in the capital and the local academies, the candidates also came from various places."

This allows women from families with modest backgrounds but a tradition of scholarship to also participate.

This was also a way for the emperor to open up to people from humble backgrounds and recruit talented individuals.

However, Yang Luo, who was previously known by name, was not among these talented individuals and was therefore not eligible to receive an invitation.

"Then what's the point of her studying so hard?" Peach Blossom asked, puzzled.

Mo Zheng shook her head: "I don't know, she hasn't told me what she wants me to do yet." Then she smiled, "But this Miss Yang is quite capable."

(End of this chapter)