Chapter 80: We must break this deadlock!
Yu Wan waved her hand, "I'm not asking you to kill someone, but to help me steal something."
"What is it?" Xue Xiujun asked curiously.
Yu Wan said, "If I'm not mistaken, he and the Imperial Concubine are plotting something, but I can't investigate it. It must be something big, and the Prime Minister's residence should have evidence, so I hope you can investigate and get some important things, like secret letters or account books. This is a bit difficult for you because I can't tell you the specifics, and I don't know them myself."
Xue Xiujun said with a determined look in his eyes, "I'll go scout ahead. If it doesn't work, I'll go a few more times. As long as he's done it, there will definitely be clues. I'm not afraid of not finding any evidence against him!"
Yu Wan thought about it alone for a long time.
We must break this deadlock!
She had just finished giving instructions when she heard a eunuch's shrill voice outside the door. The Imperial Concubine was hungry and wanted her to come into the palace to cook.
Unexpectedly, Yu Wan had only been in the carriage for a short while when she began to feel the carriage becoming increasingly bumpy.
It's definitely not the way to the palace.
She had prepared some self-defense powder in her hand, and secretly lifted a crack in the curtains, and sure enough, she arrived in the suburbs.
The eunuch had disappeared; the coachman must have been replaced as soon as she got into the carriage.
This man had a fierce look, a thick beard, dark skin, and was burly and strong; he looked like someone who knew martial arts.
After a while, the carriage stopped in front of a villa.
After getting out of the car, Yu Wan asked, "Where is this?"
The bearded man glared at her fiercely before banging hard on the door.
Seeing that no one answered the door, he impatiently shouted through the door, "You damn lazybones, where have you all gone? Open the door for me!"
The gate creaked open, and a young servant walked out.
The servant looked angry, probably annoyed that the person knocking on the door had disturbed his peace, but upon seeing the bearded man, he immediately lowered his posture and became extremely obsequious.
"Master Ma, you're back. I'm so sorry, I went to relieve myself just now and neglected you. Please don't be angry."
Ma Yong snorted, then glared fiercely at Yu Wan, and coldly ordered him to tell the young master that the person had been brought.
Yu Wan was at a great disadvantage because she lacked martial arts skills. She couldn't fight head-on, so she had to use strategy instead. Therefore, she remained inactive and observed the situation.
The servant boy chuckled and said, "Master Ma, the young master said that you should take her to the west wing. He also said that you must keep a close watch on her and not let her escape, and be careful that no one sneaks in."
Ma Yong looked displeased, seemingly very unhappy, but he still reluctantly agreed.
He glared at Yu Wan and said coldly, "Let's go. I heard you know how to use poison, but don't bother trying to use it on me. I've been bathing in poison jars since I was a child, so I'm immune to all poisons."
Yu Wan had a bad feeling, but she just smiled slightly and didn't say anything.
The furnishings inside the west wing were not ordinary items found in ordinary households.
Ma Yong always looked at her with a contemptuous gaze, as if he loathed her.
Yu Wan sat down at the table. "Master Ma, right? Would you like a cup of tea to quench your thirst? You can tell I don't know martial arts. You don't need to be so wary of me."
Ma Yong sneered, "Young Master said that although you are not good at martial arts, you are very cunning. Who knows if you put something in the teacup to poison me?"
Yu Wan asked with a smile, "Aren't you immune to all poisons? You're a grown man, but you're quite timid. No wonder you've been taking poison baths since you were little. The person who made you take those baths really had good intentions."
Provoked, Ma Yong immediately jumped up and shouted angrily.
"You brat, what did you say? How dare you spout such nonsense!"
Yu Wan shrugged. "Am I wrong? If I weren't as cowardly as your young master, why would I have such martial arts skills but not go to the battlefield to fight the enemy, instead of doing evil and aiding and abetting the wicked here? I'm just doing these despicable things, I'm simply a treacherous and despicable person crawling in the shadows."
Enraged by the insults, Ma Yong rushed over and raised his fist to punch him.
Yu Wan sneered, "Look at you, look at you, are you a villain or a hero? What hero would help someone kidnap an unarmed civilian for no reason? What hero would want to fight over a few words? You're so petty."
Ma Yong was completely stung by the girl's sharp tongue. He wanted to shut her up, but he also felt that if he did, he would be proving what she had just said right. Nothing he did would work, and he was very frustrated. He could only hope that the young master would come soon and not leave him here any longer.
Yu Wan smiled, but refused to let him off the hook. "What did I say wrong? Even if you've never been to the battlefield, you should know how many ordinary people are among the soldiers on the front lines, including poor farmers, weak scholars, the elderly, and children. How many of them died on the battlefield? Yet you, who consider yourself a warrior, look down on others and act all high and mighty."
Ma Yong's face turned red with anger. This little girl hadn't uttered a single swear word, yet she had tormented him with her words.
He received orders and knew that this was the person the young master wanted, so he dared not make a move.
Most importantly, the woman was absolutely right, and he couldn't refute her.
Yu Wan observed this person for quite a while before she understood his character, which is why she wanted to deliberately provoke him.
"You look so angry, have I wronged you?"
Ma Yong was tongue-tied and got scolded, which made him very unhappy. He didn't know how to explain, and he felt there was no need to explain to a woman like that.
"Young master, what can I do if you delay your departure?" He finally managed to utter this sentence after a long pause.
Yu Wan, however, extracted crucial information from this statement. This person harbored resentment towards her young master.
"You don't think your young master is unwilling to leave the capital because he's tempted by beautiful women, do you? You don't think it's all the women's fault, do you?"
From the moment he began to look at Yu Wan with contempt and disdain, Yu Wan knew that there must be a reason for his contempt and hatred.
"Otherwise what? If it weren't for women like you who haunt his dreams, how could he have forgotten matters of national importance?"
Yu Wan found it laughable that this person had all the skills but could only be a henchman for others, all because he had no brains.
"Wrong, terribly wrong. How can this be the woman's fault? Do you think I wanted to come? If I wanted to, would you have kidnapped me? Don't you know whose fault it really is?"
When asked this question, Ma Yong was speechless.
Yu Wan once again touched a nerve, "Actually, you know that your young master is a coward; he doesn't dare to go to the battlefield."
Ma Yong remained silent, which was taken as tacit agreement with her statement.
Yu Wan continued, "I really can't understand why you follow this kind of person's lead blindly, doing whatever he tells you to do. Don't you have your own opinions? Even if you don't, you shouldn't be so blind to right and wrong, helping him harm others."
Ma Yong grew increasingly angry as he listened. "You're right. But the young master has been kind to me, and I want to repay him."
Yu Wan asked with a smile, "He has been kind to you, so you can help him harm others? What kind of logic is that?"
"I..." Ma Yong knew he couldn't argue with her, so he didn't explain. He just huffed and didn't answer, so as not to feel more and more frustrated.
Yu Wan laughed and said, "My father and brother were originally farmers. They were conscripted to the battlefield and have been missing for several years. You people are living a life of luxury and even bullying others. I really feel sorry for my father and brother. I can only blame my family for not having enough money back then, so they had no choice but to be conscripted."
Hearing her words, Master Ma was somewhat moved, even a little envious. "Your father and brother both went to the battlefield?"
“That’s right. It’s a pity they don’t know how to fight, they might already be dead.” Yu Wan said, feeling a little sad. Although she had never met them, they were still family.
Mr. Ma lowered his head sullenly, lost in thought.
A moment later, he suddenly stood up, his eyes resolute.
"I'll help you escape!"
Yu Wan was secretly delighted, thinking that she was lucky to have won using psychological tactics.
"real?"
Master Ma didn't say much. He stood at the door, looking around, and whispered...
"The young master is coming soon. We must escape before he arrives."
Yu Wan followed closely behind.
Master Ma finally led her to the back door, only to hear the gatekeeper calling for help.
"Master Ma, where are you taking this young lady? The young master is just about to see her."
Before he could finish speaking, Yi Hongchang had already caught up with him.
"Ma Yong, how dare you betray me!"
Ma Yong stood in front of Yu Wan and said, "Young Master, I dare to offer a word of advice. You have been under orders for more than half a year now. If you do not go to the battlefield now, when Liang Kingdom attacks, our army will be leaderless and it will be very tragic."
Yi Hongchang was furious. "Who do you think you are, daring to lecture me? Guards, drag him away and give him fifty lashes!"
Several people were about to take him away, but Ma Yong didn't resist. Knowing he couldn't resist, he simply stood there motionless, waiting to be captured.
Yu Wan sighed; she still had to rely on herself.
She casually waved her hand forward, and a layer of white mist appeared in front of her.
She patted Ma Yong on the shoulder and whispered, "Come with me quickly!"
As she spoke, she had already opened the door.
Ma Yong hesitated for only a moment before following her out, closing the door, and then picking up the stone lion at the entrance to block the way.
Yu Wan secretly praised, "What great strength!"
The two ran wildly, with someone chasing them from behind.
They could only run into the mountains, where the terrain was complex and it would be easier to hide.
After running for who knows how long, I finally managed to shake them off.
Ma Yong couldn't help but secretly admire the woman for still having the strength after running for several hours.
"Who exactly are you?"
Yu Wan smiled and said, "I'm a cook."
Ma Yong was surprised, "The cook?"
After catching her breath, Yu Wan realized it was getting dark and wanted to hurry back to her lodgings.
“We need to get out of here quickly, or some of my friends might be in danger. Yi Hongchang might be angry with them for not finding me.”
Ma Yong nodded. "That's just his personality. He often resorts to any means to achieve his goals."
Yu Wan asked, "What are your plans next?"
Ma Yong was also helpless, "I'm afraid I won't even be able to go to the military camp anymore. He's the one who'll replace General He, and he'll have a thousand ways to take revenge on me."
Yu Wan asked, "If I ever ask you for help, can you help me?"
Ma Yong asked, "What kind of help?"
Yu Wan's eyes were firm. "I'm the kind of person who always seeks revenge."
Master Ma immediately understood. "But he's the Prime Minister's son. How can we possibly deal with him?"
"I don't care if he's the son of a prime minister or a prince. If he doesn't let me have a good life, I won't let him have a good life either!" Yu Wan was already plotting in her mind.
Master Ma still didn't quite believe it. How could a mere woman with no background possibly contend with the powerful Prime Minister?
"The Imperial Concubine is the Prime Minister's adopted daughter, and both of these people are favorites of the Emperor. It's unlikely you'll be able to get revenge. I advise you not to go back. Go find a safe place as soon as possible and don't let them look for you."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
