Learning that Xiao Jingcheng couldn't leave the capital city, or else he would fall into a coma just like before, Jiang Mian was obviously taken aback.
"How could this happen?"
Xiao Jingcheng reached out and flicked her forehead. "Silly girl. Now there's another king on the throne of the Sheng Kingdom. Until he acknowledges me as the crown prince of the Sheng Kingdom, I won't be able to draw on the power of the royal bloodline."
Although he was smiling as he said this, Jiang Mian thought she detected a hint of melancholy in his eyes.
This made her recall what Mo Zhizhang had once told her.
She also suddenly remembered that Xiao Jingcheng didn't know Mo Zhizhang's true identity yet.
Jiang Mian thought she should tell him.
"Xiao Jingcheng, I have something to tell you, but you have to promise me you won't act rashly after you hear it," she said seriously.
"Go ahead," Xiao Jingcheng replied calmly. "There's nothing that can make me lose my cool now."
"My master... well, Mo Zhizhang," Jiang Mian said hesitantly. "Actually, he's not my uncle at all. He's someone close to the emperor."
As she spoke, she watched Xiao Jingcheng's expression carefully.
He didn't seem surprised, just frowned slightly. "Did you figure this out on your own, or did he tell you?"
"The day we left Luozhou, he showed up on our way back to the capital and addressed the emperor as his lord," Jiang Mian said. "That's when I realized I'd been deceived."
Xiao Jingcheng looked at her. "And then? Did he come clean with you? How did you react?"
Jiang Mian gave him a strange look. "What could I do? He didn't harm me on the way back. He even saved my mother. He not only saved my mother but also taught me a lot. I'm sure he had his reasons for deceiving me. How could I hold it against him?"
"Is that all?!" Xiao Jingcheng was a bit angry. He'd long suspected that Mo Zhizhang wasn't her uncle, but he'd never known what the man was up to. And because he'd lost his soul after saving the people in Dongli Town, he'd been too weak to expose him.
But...
When he'd deceived her, she'd slapped him hard and kicked him out of Huichun Hall without even listening to his explanation.
Mo Zhizhang had also lied to her about his identity. Why was he so easily forgiven?!
Was it because of the thoughtless things he'd said at the Spring Banquet that had hurt her, so in her eyes, he was such a despicable person?!
Xiao Jingcheng shivered involuntarily.
If that was the case, he must never let her know that he'd once possessed the body of a dog named Dahuang.
Jiang Mian had no idea what was going on in his head. She let out a soft snort. "Do you think Brother Mo is like you? Brother Mo is always polite and honest. Unlike some people who always do unexpected things."
Thinking of his actions just now, she felt her ears burning.
"Brother Mo?" Xiao Jingcheng caught the way she addressed him and felt a pang of jealousy. "Why do you call him that?"
Jiang Mian said, "We've sworn to be siblings, so of course I have to call him that. I even asked Father to give him a courtyard in the prince's mansion, and Father agreed."
"What did you say?! Uncle Li agreed?!" Xiao Jingcheng exclaimed in disbelief. Just then, Su Lan's confused voice came from the side. "Why is there a man talking?"
By the time Su Lan walked out of the side room, Xiao Jingcheng had already climbed in through the window and was standing face to face with Jiang Mian behind the window.
He grabbed her shoulders with both hands, still in disbelief but lowering his voice. "How could Uncle Li agree? He clearly—"
"Clearly what?" Jiang Mian looked at him curiously. "Why can't Father agree? Brother Mo hasn't done anything wrong."
Xiao Jingcheng's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly calmed down.
That's right. Mo Zhizhang was good at pretending. Maybe Li Zhao didn't know the man's true identity yet. Or perhaps Li Zhao already knew but, for some reason he didn't understand, allowed Jiang Mian and Mo Zhizhang to continue their acquaintance.
If Mo Zhizhang had a courtyard in the prince's mansion, didn't that mean he could meet Jiang Mian anytime he wanted?
No, he couldn't allow that!
He wanted to move into the Li Prince's Mansion too!
"Where is he then?" Xiao Jingcheng squinted his eyes and asked. "Is he in the Li Prince's Mansion now?"
"The emperor said he has a mission to complete and won't be back for the time being," Jiang Mian said instinctively, grabbing his sleeve. "Oh, and Brother Mo also said that the emperor already knew you were in Dongli Town with us! But..."
"But the emperor never asked anything about you."
Xiao Jingcheng had already guessed this when he saw the imperial guards in Luozhou.
The journey from the capital to Luozhou wasn't short. It would take at least four or five days to get there. He guessed that by the time Li Zhao reached Chenzhou, Xiao Tianchi had already left the capital for Luozhou.
As for who had leaked Li Zhao's identity and whereabouts, there was no one else but Mo Zhizhang.
Moreover, Li Zhao didn't seem to mind Xiao Tianchi's approach, which meant that Li Zhao had already made his choice between his emperor father and his uncle.
Xiao Jingcheng respected everyone's choices. Although he trusted Li Zhao and believed that Li Zhao wouldn't harm him.
But after experiencing so many things, Xiao Jingcheng had become more cautious and suspicious. He didn't dare to take risks easily and hand his life over to others. That's why he'd left without saying goodbye, leaving a letter behind.
Even when he left with Taoist Yuanzheng, he deliberately revealed his whereabouts.
If his uncle had any intention of killing him, he would surely have been ambushed on his way to the capital. But he'd returned to the capital safely.
He hadn't even seen a single bandit on the way, let alone an assassin.
That strange thought popped into his mind again.
What on earth was his uncle up to?
His uncle had managed to stage a coup d'état without anyone noticing. He wasn't a fool. And he didn't believe that his uncle was a kind person.
Xiao Jingcheng still thought his plan was the right one.
The best thing for him to do now was to wait and see.
Now that the Northern Sheng Kingdom had a prime minister, new policies would surely be introduced soon. That would be his best chance.
"Xiao Jingcheng, why aren't you saying anything?" Jiang Mian tugged at his clothes. "What are you going to do next?"
Xiao Jingcheng asked, "When are you going to see your master?"
Jiang Mian paused for a moment and replied, "Probably in the next two days."
"When you see your master, could you please ask about my mother for me?" Xiao Jingcheng said seriously. "Ask if... if she's really dead."
Hearing about Shen Lingyun, Jiang Mian's heart skipped a beat. "Okay, I know. I'll ask for you."
Xiao Jingcheng had achieved his goal tonight. It was already late at night, and he knew it was time for him to leave. After saying goodbye to Jiang Mian, he was about to climb out of the window when Jiang Mian quickly grabbed him.
"Wait!"