Chapter 109
Zi You asked, “Where’s the evidence? Would the Emperor and father believe just your words? Besides, this way will expose Shizi Ye. We can’t drag Shizi Ye down because we want revenge. Shizi Ye is a dandy who doesn’t know martial arts. News of him being injured should be blocked and no one can find out, except for An Wangfei. Grandfather, the political situation right now is very delicate. Every step has to be carefully taken. Especially you and uncle. You both have military power in your hands. The Emperor values that, but also fears it. We have to guard against that. Granddaughter’s opinion is to not startle the snake. Secretly taking action is safer than publicly taking action.”
When Zi You was speaking, she appeared like a mature, intelligent adult, stunning Old General Mu silly. He secretly contemplated that hardships really make people grow. After this incident, his granddaughter grew up.
He was unaware that his granddaughter was already not a twelve-year-old child. She was a person who died once, after the multiple blows of the collapse of her family, deceit of her stepmother and friend, betrayals of her husband and maidservant, and abandonment of her father.
Old General Mu was inexplicably worried. He spoke to stop his granddaughter. “What do you want to do? You’er, grandfather forbids you to put yourself in danger or stain your hands with blood. Let grandfather deal with this. Be good. Be obedient.”
“Not staining my hands with blood? Then the one to die today would be me!” Zi You’s emotions were a bit unstable as she yelled. Crystal beads of tears finally fell down. “I also want to be pure, kind, happy, and carefree and live under your protection for a lifetime, but do others let me? Can you stay with me for a lifetime? Grandfather, that’s not realistic. Think about Shizi Ye. He is the Empress Dowager’s favorite grandson and An Wang Shizi Ye, but is forced to disguise as a dandy. Doesn’t he want to be a good man praised by the masses for bring versed in civil and martial skills, like his father? He is nobler than your granddaughter, but he was forced……”
“Grandfather, some things don’t happen according to our wishes. What can I do? I can only meet it. I can’t always hide under your wings and need your protection, so that one day I wouldn’t even know how I died. Today’s incident taught me two things. One, the battle between women is no less than on the cruel battlefield. Second, I’m still not strong enough. If I’m strong enough, then Shizi Ye wouldn’t be injured trying to save me. So, I’ve decided already. I will practice martial arts even harder, so that no one can harm me.”
Zi You wiped the tears from her eyes. Her gaze was firm and her determination was resolute. The blood of a soldier was completely manifested.
Old General Mu was sad, pleased, and guilty. His tiger eyes became tearful. He pulled his granddaughter’s hand and muttered in remorse. “It’s grandfather’s fault. Blame grandfather for not protecting you well.”
Zi You shook her head. She tightly held her grandfather’s hand instead and softly comforted, “Grandfather, don’t blame yourself for something that’s not your fault. In fact, being your granddaughter is the thing that makes You’er the happiest and proudest. Grandfather, there is no such thing as guarding against an enemy for 1,000 days. I’m weak so I will be bullied. I’m strong and I will be envied. Shangguan Lingluo and I have no disagreement or vengeance between us. Why does she have to kill me? Thus, you can’t stop someone from being evil. There is nothing fearsome. If she comes, I will meet her and knock her down. No matter what, I, Mu Zi You, is your, the Invincible War God’s, granddaughter. Would I be scared by a little difficulty?”
Old General Mu looked at his strong granddaughter. His tears finally fell. Then the smile on his face expanded and eventually turned into hearty laughter.
The Shangguan LingRan whose upper body was supported by Zi You’s arms, was already awake. He heard Zi You’s words and his blood couldn’t help but surge. His heart that was calm for many years suddenly set off monstrous waves.
In reality, he was never unconscious. With his cultivation, this bit of injury wouldn’t threaten his life. In addition, with the help of Zi You’s top quality Dragon Blood Pill, he could start healing himself now.
But he was just reluctant to leave the little yatou’s soft and fragrant embrace.
Moreover, he really wanted to know what the little yatou was thinking of. He felt that this little yatou, who was several years younger than him, was like an unknown treasure waiting for him to discover.
And Zi You’s speech did not disappoint him. Only, he did not expect that this twelve-year-old little yatou to understand his difficulties and ambitions. She even believed that he was not a real dandy and even guessed that he was forced into helplessly disguising himself.
Her voice was filled with sympathy and not ridicule or contempt. Shangguan Lingkan suddenly felt that he was no longer alone in the world. The little yatou who held him in her arms understood him.
Old General Mu finally calmed down after a long time. He asked excitedly, “What do you want to do?”
Zi You thought about it. “Grandfather, can you let You’er take care of this on her own? If You’er encounters any difficulties or danger, You’er will definitely tell you. Now, You’er has to ask you to find a way to cover up the fact that Shizi Ye is injured and recuperating at the General’s Manor and get An Wangfei to secretly come see him without letting that woman know.”
Old General Mu nodded. “Okay, grandfather will arrange it. Do you want to keep him in Hundred Herb Garden?”
“No, I’ll keep him Youran Ju. Say that I’m injured, grandfather. I need to rest and people are not allowed to visit. Then heavily protect Hundred Herb Garden. Let’s give them a true and false image. From now on, I will have someone watch Wang Yiping twentyfour hours a day. I want to see, I really want to see, who is the one tipping her off,” Zi You replied.
Old General Mu looked gratified at his granddaughter. He stroked his beard and smiled widely.
But a part of him was regretful that his granddaughter was a girl and not a soldier, yet still more resourceful and intelligent than his second son [Mu YingRui]
Shangguan LingRan also felt that Zi You was like a small fox: charming on the outside, but cunning on the inside. Perhaps no one could imagine that this elegant and beautiful girl would have so many tricks.
Once he saw Weishali, he knew that Wang Yiping and her brother being bitten by a snake at Duke Yingguo fu was her handiwork.
What a good job! She made Wang Yiping, her yiniang, and her brother eat such a big loss. They were suspected for a long time and Zi You was praised for her filial piety towards her mother.
They soon arrived at the General’s Manor. Zi You disguised Shangguan LingRan as her and carried him into Youran Ju.
She disguised herself as a soldier. She followed the troops from behind and entered the General’s Manor. She snuck into Hundred Herb Garden and treated Weishali’s injuries.
Weishali had four or five gashes on its body. The pill she gave it earlier had stopped the bleeding. All that remained was to treat the wounds.
Zi You patted its head sympathetically. “Thank you for saving me! I will use my spiritual power to heal you.”
Weishali firmly refused. “No, master had already used your spiritual power once. It will be dangerous if you repeatedly use it. It doesn’t matter. I have spiritual power and consumed master’s pill. If I generate my power to heal myself, I will heal in three days. Master does not need to worry.”
Zi You was sad. She stroked it and muttered, “Weishali, when can you cultivate into a human form? I am alone and feel so tired.”
There were some things that she couldn’t tell even her grandfather and buried them deep in her heart. How could she tell him that she was reborn and died miserably in her previous life?
And how could she tell her grandfather her plan for revenge? If grandfather wouldn’t be scared to death, he would be scared into unconsciousness. Wouldn’t grandfather say she was too cruel? After all, he was a soldier and not a politician.
She already had a lot of pressure from hiding so many things in her heart. Now she had to deal with Wang Yiping and Shangguan Lingluo who wanted to harm her and Taizi and Third Wangzi who wanted to use her.
She couldn’t even fully believe that Shangguan LingRan saved her simply because he liked her.
Looking back at his previous behavior, she wouldn’t deny that he might like her a little bit. But there must be some other factors involved. After all, her grandfather held military power in his hands.However, she had to save Shangguan LingRan. After all, he was injured due to saving her. If she ignored him, then she would be a thankless, ungrateful villain.
Saving him was also to return his affection. After she saved him, they would no longer have any sort of relationship.
Zi You did exactly what she thought. She treated Shangguan LingRan’s injuries, but her attitude towards him was ice-cold.
Shangguan LingRan was extremely depressed! He originally thought that he and the little yatou could cultivate their feelings while he was staying in the General’s Manor.
Who knew that the little yatou tapped his acupuncture points every night when she came to quietly change his dressing? He couldn’t speak or move his hands and feet.
On the third day, Third Wangzi came. He brought a lot of tonics and supplements. He said indignantly and worriedly to Old General Mu, “Benwangzi was terrified to hear that there was an attempted assassination on Mu Xiaojie! Who is so bold as to try to assassinate someone under the eyes of the Emperor? Is Mu Xiaojie alright? Can Benwangzi take a look at her?”
Old General Mu pretended to be distressed and angrily said, “Chen [literally: this official] doesn’t know. There were no clues. When Chen arrived, they all took poison and committed suicide. Chen’s granddaughter and the guards were all injured. If the guards didn’t desperately try to save You’er, she would have died. Chen really doesn’t know who is so deranged and wants to kill You’er. If Chen finds out whom he is, Chen will skin him!”
As Old General Mu was lying, he was worrying. He didn’t know whether the Worriless Pill his precious granddaughter invented was going to work.