Lu Wuxie listened to Zhong Li's gentle talk, his expression becoming serious and tense.
He never imagined that when his mother was assassinated years ago, another group of people had hidden in the woods, witnessing the entire event.
"Tuobai said that they had brought a few guards to protect them on their journey. However, those men in black were clearly top-tier desperadoes. Forget about rescuing anyone; a few household servants combined might not even defeat one of them.
Helpless, they could only jump off the carriage and hide in the woods with the guards. Tuobai said the fight lasted for a long time. The assassinated woman was likely of noble birth and had many experts accompanying her. Fortunately, the woman in the carriage was clever and, with her maid, managed to escape."
"What did you say?" Lu Wuxie's face showed horror when he heard Zhong Li's words. His mother had escaped?
Zhong Li nodded, "Don't rush, let me finish."
"After the fight ended and everyone else had left, Tuobai and the others cautiously emerged from the woods. Because they came from a family of physicians, driven by their instinct to heal, they inspected everyone lying on the ground. To their surprise, there was still one person who hadn't completely breathed their last."
"Who?" Lu Wuxie pressed.
"The Princess's groom."
"Uncle Deng?" Lu Wuxie murmured.
Zhong Li shook her head. Neither she nor Tuobai knew that man's name.
"He only managed to say one sentence before he passed away."
"What?" Lu Wuxie asked.
"A spy," Zhong Li said, her gaze fixed on Lu Wuxie. "This weapon was also given to Tuobai by that groom."
"A spy?" Lu Wuxie knitted his brows, recalling the scene when he saw his mother after his rebirth.
Zhong Li continued to gaze at him, knowing that he had already figured some things out.
"It was Zhi Lan, my mother's personal maid," Lu Wuxie realized with a start.
Zhong Li pursed her lips and took out a box from her embrace, placing it on the table.
Lu Wuxie took the box and opened it. "A jade pendant?"
"His Highness must have noticed that this jade pendant has a bit of blackish-red on it," Zhong Li said.
Lu Wuxie nodded and took the jade pendant out of the box, examining it closely. The jade was crystal clear with few inclusions, indicating it was of superior quality. As for the spot of red.
He hesitated for a moment before bringing it to his nose to sniff, but the smell of the blackish-red had long since dissipated. He couldn't discern anything.
Zhong Li said, "His Highness likely has a guess already. That's right, this is blood."
Lu Wuxie looked at the jade pendant, then at Zhong Li, his face filled with confusion.
"What would you think if I told you that when the groom died, he used all his strength to tug at the jade pendant on Tuobai's waist?" Zhong Li asked.
Lu Wuxie looked at the jade pendant in his hand, his fingers trembling, his breathing becoming difficult. The name of the person who killed his mother was on the tip of his tongue.
"Mo Cang," Zhong Li said, seeing his state, her heart aching.
"It was her! I thought of everyone, but I never expected it to be her," Lu Wuxie muttered as if he hadn't heard Zhong Li calling him. "She would do anything for him, so what is this betrayal in comparison?"
"Mo Cang, who are you referring to?" Zhong Li asked.
Lu Wuxie's thin lips trembled, and he looked at the candle flame burning in front of him with a dazed expression.
Zhong Li pondered for a moment, then looked at the object in his hand. "Could it be... the Empress?"
-------------------------------------
The morning sun shone on Lu Wuxie's face.
He blinked his hazy eyes, facing the sun, and looked around with a bewildered expression. Only when he realized he had fallen asleep at the table did he fully wake up.
As Lu Wuxie got up, the outer cloak draped over his shoulders fell to the ground. He then saw Zhong Li asleep on another table, with a bowl of congee in front of her. The congee was half cold, but he could still faintly smell the sweet aroma of sweet potato.
"Li'er," he murmured after a moment's pause and walked over to her, calling out softly.
Zhong Li quickly opened her eyes and looked in his direction. Seeing Lu Wuxie standing before her, she said, "You're awake?"
Lu Wuxie nodded.
Zhong Li picked up the congee and tested its temperature. "Wait, I'll heat it up for you."
"Li'er!" He grabbed her arm.
Zhong Li looked at him, puzzled.
"Thank you for staying with me," Lu Wuxie's voice was slightly hoarse.
Half an hour later.
A carriage headed north from Linzhou. Tuobai, disguised as a young servant, was driving. Zhong Li and Lu Wuxie, also disguised, sat inside the carriage.
Zhong Li lifted the curtain of the carriage and glanced at the surrounding scenery. Confirming that there was still some time before they reached Qin Guan North Street, she took a small pot from the cabinet and poured some water into a bowl, placing it before Lu Wuxie.
"What is this?" Lu Wuxie asked.
"A soup to relieve drunkenness and reduce swelling. I specifically brewed it last night."
Lu Wuxie took the bowl and couldn't help but frown at the bitter aroma emanating from it.
"Don't doubt it, I deliberately added a bit of Coptis. It's so you remember how bitter it is to drink my hangover soup, so you'll be more careful when you drink in the future," Zhong Li teased, seeing Lu Wuxie's expression.
Lu Wuxie wore a pained expression and drank it all down.
As he placed the bowl on the table, something appeared before his eyes.
"What is this?" Lu Wuxie looked at the small box before him, feeling a bit flustered. Upon closer inspection, he realized it wasn't something he had given her, and the heavy stone in his heart fell back into place.
"This is something I bought for you. I think it's quite suitable," Zhong Li said, her cheeks flushing, and she pushed the box into Lu Wuxie's embrace, adding, "Qixi Festival is about reciprocity."
Lu Wuxie's heart was filled with joy. He pursed his lips to suppress the smile that threatened to break onto his face and opened the box in his hand.
It was a gilded men's hair hairpin, adorned with auspicious clouds, simple and elegant.
"When did you buy it?" he asked.
Zhong Li said, "When you bought Luo Zidai for me, I also bought this."
The smile on Lu Wuxie's face finally couldn't be contained. He lowered his head and looked at the item in the box with affection.
Seeing him like this, Zhong Li coughed lightly to regain his attention and said, "Me giving you something doesn't mean I've forgiven or accepted you. You know there are still many people and things between us."
Lu Wuxie knew exactly who Zhong Li was referring to. Just as he was about to say something, Zhong Li continued, "I believe you have a good way of handling Shen Ying's matter. Once this is over, we can discuss our matters."
Lu Wuxie nodded and said, "Li'er, no matter what the Empress thinks or plans, you are the only principal wife I will ever have, and in the future, you will be the only one in my household."
Zhong Li knew that in ancient times, it was normal for someone of Lu Wuxie's status to have multiple wives and concubines. She had thought about how to express her thoughts to him, but he had promised her first.
She didn't want to ask him about Shen Ying. She also remembered him mentioning that in his past life, he was engaged, and that person was likely Shen Ying. She also knew that Lu Wuxie's response to her was because he had his own plans.
"Alright, I'll wait for you," Zhong Li said with a smile and a nod.