Chapter 8 The Plot Deepens as the Carriage Approaches the Capital (2/2)
It was not right for the servant to refuse her mistress rest when she was unwell. Nanny Li was speechless, she dared not say something like that. It was still early, and even if they dawdled, it should not be much trouble. As such, she agreed. The lady in the car was so sickly, and she could not afford anything to happen to her on their journey.
When nanny Li left, Mo Xuetong ordered softly, ”Mo Lan, go with nanny Shen to the side of the road to see if there are any other horse carriages pa.s.sing by. If there is, we will travel to the capital behind them.
Mo Xuetong had not guessed wrongly. Mo Lan could not hide her happiness as she got onto the horse carriage and told Mo Xuetong, ”Miss, there is a horse carriage coming. It is very long and looks like it's from a n.o.ble family. Are we going to follow them into the capital?”
”What did nanny Shen say?” Mo Xuetong glanced at her.
”Nanny Shen said she could not tell which family the carriage belongs to. There aren't any signs on the carriage, but it is definitely from a wealthy and powerful family in the capital. She also asked you to be careful. The horse carriage following us has the Mo crest on it. It looks like it was sent by the manor to pick you up. But nanny Li did not mention it,” Mo Lan said carefully.
Mo Xuetong lifted a corner of the curtains and saw a luxurious horse carriage pa.s.sing by. It was pulled by a pure white horse and from its strides, one could see that it was a good horse. The wind caused the satin curtains to flutter, but one could not see who it was behind it. But it was natural for such a large horse carriage to have blinds, so it was normal not to see anything. She scanned the curtains and saw a faint mark. Her pupils suddenly contracted and her hands, which were holding a teacup tremored lightly.
It was someone from the royal family. Only those from the imperial family could use the sign of the dragon. However, this was something she needed the most right now.
”Miss, what are we going to do now?” Mo Lan asked by her side.
Mo Xuetong looked down, her long lashes fluttered. When she looked up again, her eyes were cold and calm, making one feel a.s.sured. ”Mo Lan, take this and ask to see the owner of the carriage. Say that someone is plotting against me and say that I'm willing to use this rare music sheet in exchange for their help to be our witness.” She took out name card of the General manor. The Old Madam had asked nanny Shen to bring it to her. Before considering victories, one had to first consider failures. She had to keep the upper hand.
”Yes.” Mo Lan knew that the matter was urgent. She took the name card and hurried off the carriage.
Mo Xuetong then ordered Mo He, ”Take nanny Li to the side for a chat. And then tell her we are going to set off.”
Mo He replied in ascent and got off the carriage. The horse carriages set off again. In order to prevent any accidents, nanny Shen and Mo He intentionally swapped carriages. Nanny Shen got onto Mo Xuetong's carriage and asked the driver to wait for seven or eight carriages to pa.s.s them before following at a sedate pace behind.
They could see the capital gates from afar. There was a hanging bridge that was set on the opposite end of the sh.o.r.e on the protective moat around the capital. It was noon and there were many people entering and leaving the city. They would occasionally see a few fast horses running by them with servants on their backs. They were members of the group following n.o.ble sons out to the countryside to play.
The only thing that the capital did not lack was n.o.ble sons who took their horses out to have fun.
Mo Xuetong's horse carriage followed the horse carriages in front closely, slowly entering the capital. Nanny Li sat on the horse carriage at the back and only kept watch if the last carriage had caught up with them. She had not discovered that her own horse carriage had already joined another group. Because there were many people entering the capital, the horse carriage procession had lost its original formation. They were no longer following one behind another. Mo Xuetong's horse carriage followed stealthily behind and was in the middle of another procession.
Nanny Shen went onto the first horse carriage. Nanny Li made an excuse of finding another woman at the back to speak about something and got onto the third horse carriage. They were about to enter the capital. Nanny Li pushed open the windows of the carriage at the back and took out a brightly colored handkerchief. She waved it outside the window and the carriage driver behind that had been following behind all this while immediately understood.
He pulled the reins forcefully. The horse neighed in pain and raised its forelegs into the air. Then, it charged into the fray. They had just entered the capital gates and others had realized that the horse carriage procession was not your usual procession. They had long let them past onto the main road of the city. It was not a narrow path and as long as the horse did not charge into a group of people, it would not knock into anyone.
However, the horse carriage charged into a group of people, causing them to scatter everywhere. There were startled screams, and then, there was a shrill scream. It sounded as if something heavy had fallen onto the ground. Following that, was a shrill voice, ”Someone's dead. Someone's dead! The voice sounded old as if it belonged to an elderly person.
It had indeed happened. Mo Xuetong's eyes grew cold as she sat up in the horse carriage.
The groaning sound was accompanied by a loud shout of pain. It was louder than the fussing crowd! The voice was not soft and it sounded fake.
The path became crowded since an accident had occurred. There were so many people that the luxurious carriage in front could not get onto the path and had to stop.
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