Posing as an Orphan to Enter the Thieves' Den, Then Turning the Tables to Swallow the Marquis's Estate
Mei Zhongjun gripped the rosewood armrests of his wheelchair tightly with both hands, blood seeping from under his fingernails.
His face flushed red, then turned pale, then bluish-white, the same color as a drowned ghost just pulled from the bottom of a well.
My chest heaved for a while, and I managed to suppress the excruciating pain by three inches. My eyelids kept twitching, but I still had to put on a magnanimous and considerate act and squeeze out Luoyang dialect through gritted teeth.
"Oh dear... I'm telling you, young lady, watch where you're going, or you'll fall and hurt yourself."
"I'm in good health, it's no problem, really no problem..."
Gu Moli slowly straightened up with Qingwu's help, her long eyelashes drooping, completely concealing the mockery in her eyes.
Just now, Qingwu used 30% of her penetrating strength.
If an ordinary person were hit by this, their shinbone would be reduced to dust long ago.
This guy surnamed Mei used his dantian energy to neutralize the force, so his bones weren't broken, his legs were fine, and his internal energy was at least at the Fifth Rank or higher.
Despite feigning disability to this extent, his hidden ambitions are probably no less than those of the Second Prince of Anyang.
"I am clumsy and have offended you, sir. Please forgive me."
Gu Moli slightly raised her chin, revealing half of her pale face. Her eyes were brimming with tears, threatening to fall, and she bit her lower lip with her pearly teeth.
The anger that Mei Zhongjun had just suppressed suddenly flared up again.
"No, no! How could I blame you!"
He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, the painting of the beautiful woman washing away all his doubts. Even the pain in his shinbone didn't seem so unbearable anymore. He turned his head and spat a mouthful of thick, yellow phlegm at the guard by the gate.
"You blind fool!"
Why haven't you brought my octagonal, ornately carved carriage yet?
"Let the raindrops lash against you, little lady, and I'll skin you alive!"
The two guards clasped their hands in a fist salute and backed away, their boots crunching in the puddles.
Before long, the copper bell rang clearly.
A large sandalwood cart came to a steady stop in front of the steps, with water-repellent glass lamps hanging at its four corners. The two chestnut horses pulling the cart had glossy coats and were exhaling white steam from their nostrils.
Mei Zhongjun ordered his men to lift the doorway. He was stuck in his wheelchair, craning his neck, his eyes glued to Gu Moli. He raised his hand in a gesture of evasion.
"Please, young lady?"
When you arrive at my residence, I'll first have the cook prepare a table of Luoyang- style delicacies, then steam two baskets of piping hot soup dumplings—enough to fill you up to your heart's content!
Gu Moli nodded gently, and with Qingwu's support, she took small steps onto the slippery bluestone slab.
The cold rain lashed his face, ruffling a few strands of hair at his temples, which clung to his pale, bluish cheeks, making him appear even more frail.
As she lifted her coarse cloth skirt and stepped onto the carriage footrest, she paused for a moment.
Using the cover of Qingwu lifting the brocade carriage curtain, she turned her head and quickly glanced at the dark figure in the alley behind the inn.
The few "tails" who had followed her out of Beijing were lurking under an abandoned teahouse on a street corner, their breaths barely audible, still hesitating whether to show themselves and snatch her away.
Gu Moli's lips twitched slightly.
The spies sent by my mother were clever enough to know that we couldn't openly break ties with the Jinwu Guard family in Luoyang.
In that case, she will personally lead the way in this scheme of using someone else to do the dirty work.
"Come on up, it's very cold outside."
Mei Zhongjun's wheelchair had already been pushed up the slide rail at the back of the carriage by the guards.
He lifted the curtain and peeked out, chewing on a ginseng slice for pain relief, and mumbled a painkiller.
Gu Moli looked away and bent down to get into the carriage.
The car was covered with a thick, snow-white cashmere blanket, and in the center stood a red-gold openwork charcoal brazier burning silver-thread charcoal, so warm that not a trace of smoke was emitted.
The walls were covered with sapphire blue satin, and the luminous pearls embedded in the roof emitted a warm glow.
She sat down on the brocade rug near the door, her skirt neatly gathered.
Qingwu knelt beside him, her hands resting loosely on the outside of his thighs.
Mei Zhongjun leaned against the soft couch opposite him, his leg, which had been strained, was still twitching, but his eyes refused to move.
As the temperature inside the car rose, Gu Moli unbuttoned her collar, revealing a dazzlingly white collarbone that, when illuminated by pearlescent light, appeared as delicate as freshly peeled mutton fat.
Mei Zhongjun's throat tightened again, and he pushed himself forward.
"May I ask your name, young lady? Where are you from? And who else is in your family?"
Gu Moli's eyelashes trembled, her eyes reddened, and her voice was as soft as melting snow in early spring.
"Reporting to the Second Young Master, my name is Gu Li'er. I came here with my father as a merchant, but we encountered villains along the way."
Father... Father died tragically by the sword, leaving only me and my maid Qingwu to depend on each other for survival.
He had intended to go to Dengzhou to visit distant relatives, but the villains had stolen all his travel expenses.
If it weren't for meeting you today, young master, I fear I would have frozen to death in this desolate wilderness.
She raised her sleeve to wipe her eyes, and the exposed part of her forearm was so thin and white, against the backdrop of the royal blue satin, that it made Mei Zhongjun dizzy.
"Go to Dengzhou for refuge? What's the point of going to that poor, remote place!"
Mei Zhongjun slapped his thigh, pulling at the hidden injury on his shinbone. His lips twitched violently, but he quickly stopped, baring his teeth and taking full responsibility.
"Now that you've entered the gates of my Marquis of Luoyang's Residence, Luoyang City will be your home from now on!"
I've heard that Dengzhou, that godforsaken place, is currently experiencing Japanese pirate raids; you absolutely mustn't go there.
To be honest, I also heard that Prince Yi has already asked for troops to go and die. He's really out of his mind!
The words " Prince Yi asked his troops to go and die" pierced Qingwu's ears, causing her eyelids to twitch violently and her knuckles to move beneath her wide sleeves.
Gu Moli remained unfazed, but instead widened her almond-shaped eyes, her face filled with admiration.
"I am but a humble woman, ignorant of court affairs. I only know that the Second Young Master is incredibly powerful and truly a great hero of Luoyang."
That was a perfectly timed compliment.
Mei Zhongjun felt as if he had lost two ounces of weight, his sinister face flushed red, and he grinned so wide that his eyes disappeared from his grin.
"Great! This young lady has good taste!"
Follow me, and I guarantee you'll live a life of luxury. Once you're in my mansion, I'll reward you with ten boxes of pearls!
The carriage rumbled through the city gate, turned into the dimly lit inner city, and then went deep into Vermilion Bird Avenue, finally coming to a steady stop in front of a deep mansion adorned with large red lanterns.
The white marble lions are as tall as two people, and above the vermilion gate hangs a golden plaque bestowed by the emperor— the Marquis of Luoyang's Residence.
The carriage curtain was lifted, and a cold wind swirled in, carrying snowflakes.
Mei Zhongjun had his guards help him back to his wheelchair, pointed to the two rows of servants standing at attention in front of the door, and turned around with an arrogant expression.
"Young lady, get out of the carriage, we're home."
Gu Moli asked Qingwu to help her out of the carriage. Standing at the foot of the high stone steps, she looked up at the plaque that shone with golden light in the night, a cool smile appearing in her eyes.
Luoyang, the eastern capital.
The Marquis's Residence.
From now on, all the splendor and luxury of this mansion will be swallowed whole by her, the Great Yan princess of Dayan, inch by inch.
Gu Moli composed herself and had just stepped onto the first stone step when a person suddenly strode out from inside the door.
A maidservant of sixteen or seventeen, wearing a slightly worn peach-colored cotton-padded jacket,
With striking features, carrying a ram's horn lantern, she had come to fetch someone.
When he saw that the woman who stepped out of the carriage was a sickly young lady, his face immediately fell.
"Young Master!"
She rushed to the wheelchair ahead of everyone else, shoved the lamp into the servant's hand, and spoke in a voice that was both urgent and aggrieved.
"Why did you bring back an unknown stranger on your trip?"
Just now, someone came from the Old Madam's courtyard to ask, saying that if anything were to happen to you, all of us servants would be held responsible!