After the Cannon Fodder Awakened, She Married the Female Lead! [Quick Transmigration] 91

Chapter 91

After his request was rejected, the strategist had no choice but to wait patiently for someone from the capital to come, and at the same time, he secretly prayed that the person who came would be someone under the prime minister, so that his confidence could be a little more sufficient.

In the few days of waiting for someone from the capital, Li Mo did not move out of the Prince of Zhenbei’s mansion. Instead, she used her outstanding appearance and conversation skills to establish a good relationship with the old princess.

“In a flash, so many years have passed. You and Wen Shi have both grown up,” the old princess exclaimed. “Seeing that your relationship is still as good as when you were young, I am relieved.”

Before Jiang Ling had become a profligate son, he was a rather likable child. With his outstanding appearance, he had won the affection of many elders, and the old princess was one of them.

After Li Mo had searched for information about Jiang Ling’s childhood, she picked out a few interesting stories that had happened when he was young and quickly coaxed the old princess into a happy mood.

“Aunt, I… I want to go and see Princess Anping. Is that possible?” Li Mo said with a long sigh. “I was her brother for a few days, after all.”

Mentioning Princess Anping, the smile on the old princess’s face immediately faded, and her eyes were replaced by a thick sadness.

“You are very thoughtful. I will talk to Wen Shi in a bit. You… you should all go and see Anping,” the old princess said with a sigh. She did not know that her son and daughter had already swapped their identities, and her heart was full of heartache for her daughter.

“I had already found a good husband for Anping. I didn’t expect her…” The old princess’s eyes reddened as she spoke. “It’s my fault. If I had stopped her at that time…”

Seeing this, Li Mo quickly changed the subject. It took her a lot of effort to coax the old princess into a good mood again, and then she proposed to take her leave.

Not long after, Wen Shi, who had just returned from the military camp, came to the door and cupped his fists in thanks. “Thank you for taking care of my mother, Brother Jiang Ling.”

“You’re too kind. I was just a little bored and happened to chat with my aunt for a while,” Li Mo held Wen Shi’s hand and squeezed his wrist inadvertently.

“Are you free now, Brother Wen Shi? I’ve been here for so many days and haven’t gone to see Anping yet,” Li Mo quickly withdrew her hand, the doubt in her heart a little heavier.

It was one thing for his shoulders to be thin, but this wrist also seemed a little too thin. Even if Wen Shi had recently lost weight due to an irregular diet and keeping vigil, it shouldn’t be his wrist that had lost weight.

More importantly, in these few days of getting along, Wen Shi had given her a very subtle feeling, which had caused her to not have done anything to him all along.

“Thank you for your concern, Brother Jiang Ling. After I have a simple wash-up, we’ll go and see Anping,” Wen Shi’s performance was very natural, a hint of sadness in his eyes.

Li Mo did not speak, but let out a long sigh, patted Wen Shi’s shoulder with force, and then opened her arms, intending to give him a hug.

Wen Shi pressed his eyebrows, resisted the urge to retreat, and tried to relax his body, accepting the hug from Li Mo.

Li Mo’s hug was very shallow. Because she was not yet sure of Wen Shi’s identity, she just simply touched his back and at the same time, sniffed the scent on Wen Shi’s body.

After letting go of Wen Shi, the doubt in Li Mo’s eyes deepened a little more.

Interesting. Wen Shi actually had a body fragrance, and it was a very faint, lily-like fragrance. This scent was not something that a man would have.

“See you in a bit, Brother Jiang Ling,” Wen Shi also seemed to have realized something and quickly found an excuse to run away.

Li Mo stood in place without moving, her gaze glued to Wen Shi’s back. The more she looked, the more she felt that there seemed to be something wrong with the other party.

“033, are you sure the female lead hasn’t appeared yet?” Li Mo asked.

When she was chatting with the old princess, she had suddenly remembered something. Not only were Wen Shi and his sister twins, but the two of them also looked very similar when they were young…

But if they were twins, the possibility of them being identical was almost nil. It was one thing for others not to be able to tell the difference between the brother and sister, but why couldn’t the old princess tell?

“Master, I still can’t receive any information about the female lead at present,” 033 quickly gave an answer. “The female lead may have already appeared, but as the situation changes, the choice of the female lead will also change.”

“Can you collect information about Wen Shi and his sister? Do the two of them look alike?” Li Mo’s intuition told her that the Wen Shi in front of her must have a problem.

“Master, according to the existing data, the appearance of the brother and sister should be seventy to eighty percent similar,” 033 said. “But because Wen Shi has been in the military camp all year round, and Wen Runan has not appeared much in the public eye, the information I can collect is very limited.”

“Wait? What did you say Wen Shi’s sister’s name was?” Li Mo was suddenly stunned for a moment. In Jiang Ling’s memory, it seemed that Wen Shi’s sister’s name was not mentioned. He only remembered that she had been enfeoffed as Princess Anping early on, and then she was directly addressed by her title.

“Wen Runan,” 033 said, and then it also reacted, saying with a hint of uncertainty, “Master, as for the name, there should be many possibilities. The female lead’s name has never been fixed…”

Li Mo couldn’t help but raise the corners of her lips. “That’s true, but have you forgotten? Wen Runan has said that she has a destined female lead’s constitution. Even a not-so-important person like me can keep my name. Why can’t Wen Runan?”

“Besides, a name is just a way of corroboration. I will still rely on my own feelings to judge whether the other party is the person I’m looking for,” Li Mo said, the curve of her lips getting bigger and bigger.

Speaking of which, sleeping together seemed to be a very good way to judge.

On a normal day, both of them were wearing disguises, so she only had a faint, strange feeling and did not dare to be too sure, but sleeping together was different. The clothes on the two of them were less, and the close enough distance would also make some disguises ineffective.

Most importantly, Wen Runan did not have a disguise mask. If Wen Shi was really Wen Runan in disguise, he should be full of flaws.

After about a quarter of an hour, Wen Shi had taken off his soft armor and changed into a black long robe. He was also holding the scriptures he had copied in his hand, probably intending to burn them for the other party when he paid his respects.

“Let’s go, Brother Jiang Ling,” Wen Shi walked forward. “If Anping knows you’ve come to see her, she will definitely be very happy.”

Li Mo nodded and swept her gaze over Wen Shi’s face, neck, and wrists, almost going over all the skin that was exposed to the air.

Wen Shi noticed Li Mo’s actions, but the expression on his face did not change in the slightest.

After all, Wen Shi had not been idle for this quarter of an hour. Not only had he changed into a new set of clothes, but he had also redone the disguise he should have done. Unless he used his hands, it would definitely not be possible to see any problems just by looking at him a few times.

After not finding any flaws, Li Mo quickly withdrew her gaze.

After suffering a loss for being frivolous last time, Li Mo had learned her lesson this time. She had to be calm and slowly boil the frog in warm water, letting the relationship between the two of them develop naturally.

Of course, all of this was on the premise that she needed to confirm whether the person in front of her was Wen Shi or Wen Runan, and if the other party was Wen Runan, whether it was the Wen Runan she wanted.

Compared to the Prince of Zhenbei’s tomb, Princess Anping’s tomb was much simpler. There were not many magnificent murals and statues, but it was built according to the scale of an ordinary princess. Because the construction period was relatively tight, some of the details were not handled very perfectly.

“Anping, I’ve come to see you,” Li Mo stood by the tombstone and gently brushed away the leaves that had fallen on it. “I came in a hurry this time. I don’t know what you like, so I temporarily bought some clothes and jewelry that a person of your age would like. In another place, you have to live well.”

Although Li Mo’s tone was very plain, the sadness that was revealed from within could not be concealed and was very easy to resonate with.

Wen Shi did not say anything, but just looked at the tombstone with a sad expression, squatted down, and began to burn the Buddhist scriptures.

Brother, don’t worry. After I have found the real murderer who killed you and Father, I will definitely avenge you and then let you and Father be reunited. I will definitely not let you be alone here.

Although Wen Shi did not speak, his eyes began to redden, especially after hearing what Li Mo had said, his tears were already welling up in his eyes.

“Brother Wen Shi, have you found any clues about the real murderer who killed your uncle and Anping?” Li Mo had squatted down by Wen Shi’s side at some point and asked, leaning against his arm.

Wen Shi blinked quickly, trying to hold back the tears in his eyes, but his current posture was not right. He was lowering his head. After blinking, the tears were squeezed out of his eyes instead.

“Brother Wen Shi, did I say something wrong?” The expression on Li Mo’s face was a little helpless. Seeing that Wen Shi had started to cry, she rather clumsily extended her hand, wanting to help him wipe them away with her sleeve.

“It’s fine. I just thought of my little sister. I should have been the one who was eating with my father. My little sister, she was for me…” Wen Shi casually found a reason, then stood up and quickly wiped away the remaining tears with his own sleeve.

“Brother Jiang Ling, it seems you also know that there is something fishy about my father and little sister’s deaths,” Wen Shi said, the expression on his face suddenly becoming serious. “The traitor I caught before has died of poisoning for various reasons. The clues I have now have been cut off.”

Li Mo also quickly got into the state. “Didn’t I ask Uncle Xue to take the guards to patrol the city before? They actually found something on the second day, but at that time, we were busy with your uncle’s matter, so I didn’t mention it…”

As she spoke, Li Mo took out a half-written letter from her bosom. This was what she had found in the Third Prince’s room when she had killed him.

“This letter seems to be in the Third Prince’s own handwriting. I don’t know who secretly brought it out, but it was finally discovered by my guards,” Li Mo explained a couple of sentences, and then handed the letter over.

“You can see for yourself, Brother Wen Shi. I have not had any dealings with the Third Prince. I am not sure about the authenticity of this letter.”

Wen Shi took the letter and opened it with a hint of curiosity. By the time he saw the content on it, his breathing had become heavy. He clenched his back teeth to control his emotions.

“Brother Jiang Ling, where was this letter found?” Wen Shi’s hand began to tremble. If what was said on this letter was true, then his father and brother’s deaths were so unjust, so…

Li Mo shook her head. “I’m not sure about that either. It was found by an ordinary guard under me. It seems to be on the street near the inn. It’s not ruled out that someone deliberately threw it there.”

“I won’t hide it from you anymore. This letter is very likely to be in the Third Prince’s own handwriting, and my father… and little sister’s deaths, there must be the Third Prince’s handiwork behind it,” Wen Shi suppressed his anger. “In that case, the person who killed the Third Prince is still my benefactor.”

“You can’t just say things like that, Brother Wen Shi. Be careful of the walls having ears,” Li Mo took the opportunity to put her hand on Wen Shi’s shoulder. “Although we are in the northern border, we are still subjects. We cannot talk about the royal family.”

Wen Shi nodded rather reluctantly. Although the expression on his face looked much calmer, the bulging veins on his forehead showed that his anger had not dissipated. He had just chosen to endure it for the time being.

After successfully sending out the intelligence, Li Mo did not cause any trouble for the next few days. She stayed at the Prince of Zhenbei’s mansion and cultivated her relationship with the old princess. While getting information about Wen Runan, she waited for someone from the capital to come.

Of course, Li Mo had also implicitly proposed the matter of sleeping together, but unfortunately, it was perfectly dodged by Wen Shi with the excuse of having to go to the military camp to deal with important matters.

To make his reason look more feasible, Wen Shi had already stayed in the military camp for three consecutive days.

**

On the eighth day after the Third Prince’s death, under the strategist’s eager anticipation, the people from the capital finally arrived, but unfortunately, the person who came was not the person the strategist was looking forward to, but the Sixth Prince, whom he was most unwilling to see.

“Sixth Highness,” Li Mo cupped her hands, her attitude not looking very enthusiastic.

“It’s Jiang Ling. Long time no see. How have you been recently?” The Sixth Prince had a smile on his face. He did not mind Li Mo’s slightly perfunctory salute. In his eyes, Li Mo was already his brother-in-law and had long since been on the same boat as him.

“It’s alright. It’s just that the Third Prince’s assassination came at a bad time. I can’t go back now and can only wait here for the assassin to be caught,” as she spoke, Li Mo sighed. “Sixth Highness, does His Majesty have any special decree?”

A hint of a smile flashed in the Sixth Prince’s eyes. “My father has given me full authority over this matter. Do you have any clues on your side?”

“The most obvious clue at present is the token left by the assassin, but this looks too fake. Anyone with a brain can see that it was deliberately framed to frame the Zhenbei army,” Li Mo changed her previously ambiguous attitude and directly came to a conclusion.

“Your Highness, in my opinion, there are only two possibilities. One is that it was the work of the barbarians, to weaken the Zhenbei army. The other is that it was the work of the Third Prince’s former enemy, who bought over the people by the Prince of Zhenbei’s side through some means.”

The Sixth Prince nodded slowly. “The possibility of it being the work of the barbarians is very high. I will focus on investigating it later.”

“Then I will wait for your good news, Your Highness,” Li Mo sized up the Sixth Prince without leaving a trace.

The Sixth Prince’s appearance was the same as in her memory. His features were very handsome, and he looked not very aggressive. In addition, his usual tone of voice was gentle, and he rarely lost his composure in public. If it weren’t for someone who knew him, they would definitely think that this was a standard gentle and refined gentleman.

“Jiang Ling, you’ve come out this time. Little Eight must miss you very much, right? Do you remember to write back?” After finishing the serious business, the Sixth Prince began to reminisce and build relationships.

Li Mo had a fake smile on her face and chatted with the Sixth Prince in a desultory manner.

“The princess’s appearance is indeed as outstanding as the rumors say, but…” as Li Mo spoke, a hint of displeasure appeared between her brows. “But the princess seems a little reserved and doesn’t like me to be close to her.”

The Sixth Prince frowned for a moment, and then quickly relaxed. “Little Eight’s rules have always been taught by the people in the palace. It may take a while for her to change. It will be fine after a long time.”

“What kind of person do you like, Jiang Ling? I’ll send a few maids to you then?” The Sixth Prince winked at Jiang Ling, with a look of “I understand.”

“Then I’ll thank you first, Your Highness,” the smile on Li Mo’s face was a few shades more sincere.

Very good. The Sixth Prince had completely treated the original owner as a tool. Since he didn’t care at all about the original Eighth Princess’s life or death, then she wouldn’t have to show any mercy when she made a move.

**

Hearing that the person who had come from the capital was the Sixth Prince, Wen Shi quickly rushed back from the military camp. Without even taking off his soft armor and the sword on his waist, he met with the other party.

“Sixth Highness,” Wen Shi said, cupping his fists, his back not even bending. “This subject was busy with military affairs and could not greet you in time. I hope you can forgive me, Your Highness.”

“Of course, military affairs are important. You are too serious, Your Highness,” the Sixth Prince quickly returned the salute. “If you are not free, Your Highness, you can just lend me a couple of people. The situation on the northern border is grim now. You must put the border military affairs first, Your Highness!”

“Thank you for your understanding, Your Highness,” after Wen Shi finished speaking, he did not mince his words and quickly called over a fifth-rank deputy general, which was considered as lending him a person.

“The Third Prince was assassinated in my northern border territory. Logically speaking, I should accompany you to investigate the assassin, Your Highness, but the barbarians are constantly making small moves on the border,” as Wen Shi spoke, he let out a long sigh. “Now that my father has just passed away, they will definitely not let go of this opportunity. I really can’t get away.”

“Don’t worry, Your Highness. I understand all this,” the Sixth Prince nodded rather seriously. “Before I left, my father also instructed me not to disturb the military arrangements on the northern border because of the investigation of third brother’s assassination.”

Wen Shi nodded. After a few pleasantries, he left. The two of them had not even talked for a quarter of an hour.

Seeing Wen Shi’s back disappear, a hint of displeasure flashed in the Sixth Prince’s eyes. This excuse was well found. With the reason of needing to resist the barbarians, who would dare to get in the way?

“Sixth Highness, if there is anything you need this general to do, just say the word, Your Highness,” the deputy general bowed and said, neither humbly nor arrogantly.

The Sixth Prince immediately put away the displeasure in his eyes and had a faint smile on his face. He said politely, “In that case, then I’ll have to trouble you, General. I plan to…”

**

Wen Shi had deliberately given the Sixth Prince the cold shoulder. After reading the letter, he had followed the clues and caught two spies that very night. After suffering a loss once, this time, after he had caught them, Wen directly ordered to have their chins and limbs dislocated. It was only after confirming that there was nothing in their teeth that he pushed their chins back and let them speak.

There were many interrogation methods that were worse than death. The tortures that his father and brother had not been able to bear to use before, Wen Shi had used them all on the two of them.

When the sun rose the next day, there were two more tattered corpses in the mass grave. Wen Shi had also obtained a full finger-thick confession. The things that the two of them knew had been completely revealed.

It was true that the barbarians had a hand in his father and brother’s deaths, but the ones who had led this matter were the Third Prince and the Sixth Prince. The two of them had set up a trap for the old Prince of Zhenbei without communicating with each other.

The trap set by the Sixth Prince had caused the deaths of a hundred thousand Zhenbei soldiers, had let two border cities fall into the hands of the barbarians, and had made countless common people homeless.

The Third Prince had bought over the personal guards in the prince’s mansion and had instructed them to poison the food, causing him to lose both his father and his brother at the same time, and had made his originally happy family fall apart.

Revenge. He must take revenge. Even if he had to be Wen Shi for the rest of his life, he had to get justice for his father and brother.

The Third Prince deserved to die, and the Sixth Prince also had to die. The emperor also could not escape. If it weren’t for his tacit consent, where would the two princes, who hadn’t even been enfeoffed, have gotten the guts and the manpower?

Wen Shi clenched his fists tightly. Thinking that he still had to be hypocritical with his enemy, he gritted his teeth in hatred and couldn’t help but punch the wall. One, two, until the back of his hand was covered in blood, Wen Shi had barely vented the anger in his heart.

“Brother Wen Shi, self-harm is not a good habit,” Li Mo had come out from somewhere, directly held Wen Shi’s wrist, and gently wiped the blood on it with a handkerchief.

“Jiang Ling,” Wen Shi looked up at Li Mo, the anger in his eyes not yet dissipated. “Tell me, how much do you know about what the Sixth Prince has done?”

Li Mo did not speak. After wiping Wen Shi’s hand, she leaned over and blew on it. “Does it hurt?”

“Jiang Ling!” Wen Shi shook off Li Mo’s hand and directly grabbed her collar. “Tell me the answer. How much do you know about what the Sixth Prince has done?”

“If I say that I don’t know anything, will you believe me?” Li Mo did not resist, but just leaned over slightly to prevent her neck from being strangled. “Even the marriage with the Eighth Princess, I only knew about it when I received the imperial edict.”

Wen Shi closed his eyes and slowly let out a breath. “I’m sorry. I lost my composure just now.”

Wen Shi let go of Li Mo’s collar and bowed slightly in apology. The situation was not yet clear. If he were to go against the imperial court, then he had to get on good terms with the future Prince of Pingnan.

“Brother Wen Shi, you might as well try to trust me a little. Our thoughts should have some overlap,” Li Mo reached out and slowly smoothed the wrinkles on her collar.

“The imperial court will make a move on the Zhenbei army, and will also make a move on the Pingnan army. It’s just a matter of the front foot and the back foot,” Li Mo said with a serious expression, her attitude particularly sincere. “Instead of being passively harmed, have you considered taking the initiative to attack, Brother Wen Shi?”

“The imperial court cannot tolerate us, and we also cannot tolerate the imperial court,” Li Mo took a small step forward, shortening the distance between her and Wen Shi, and lowered her head to his ear. “Why don’t we rebel together?”

Wen Shi’s pupils shrank. He was not surprised that Li Mo had such a thought. He was surprised that Li Mo would say such a thought in front of him.

Seriously, you wake up! We’re not real brothers!! We’re just temporarily tied together by complicated interests!