Chapter 51: Jiao Cang "Delicate Concealment" (Are You the One)

 FlamingoBees 

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 Jiao Cang "Delicate Concealment" / Are You the One

 Chapter 51: 

 

Prince Sui was not a man of great tolerance.

Originally, Cui Xingzhou's efforts to plug the gaps in Great Yan's defenses had little to do with him, but blocking the path of wealth and resources was something that deserved severe punishment!

As an actual royal family member, Prince Sui could not tolerate this slight.

What made the situation even more dire was that if the merchants he had arranged ended up in the hands of Prince Huaiyang, then evidence of his private dealings with the barbarian chieftain would fall into Huaiyang’s hands.

With the Empress Dowager and the Empress Mother’s factions currently engaged in fierce conflict, if Prince Huaiyang handed over incriminating evidence, Dowager Wu would undoubtedly use it against him. In such a scenario, Liu Pei would be left only to passively endure the consequences.

Even if he managed to escape in the end, he would still lose his hard-earned reputation for virtue and filial piety.

At this moment, Prince Sui decided he needed to test Cui Xingzhou’s stance.

However, within the court, he needed to ensure that his movements were closely monitored.

Prince Sui absolutely could not allow Cui Xingzhou's impeachment petition to reach the upper echelons of the court.

Moreover, anyone who knew about his private operations with the iron mines must not be allowed to remain! It was reported that the merchants contacted by Yangshan had escaped the Prince’s assassins. These individuals were well aware of how he had bribed A'Gushan.

It seemed he would need to deploy more personnel to thoroughly eliminate these threats!

In reality, Prince Sui was overthinking. Cui Xingzhou, who had painstakingly grasped the Prince’s vulnerable spot, would not easily let go of this opportunity.

The inconsistent supply of grain to the northwest had always been a major issue. With Prince Sui’s assistance in smoothing things out, the food in the northwest’s military kitchens would become much more palatable.

Thus, Cui Xingzhou was not in a hurry; he chose to bide his time and let Prince Sui stew in his frustration.

Meanwhile, Cui Xingzhou was occupied day and night… These days, spring in the northwest had finally arrived, with the streets blooming almost overnight in splendid colors.

At this time, stepping outside, the streets were filled with the fragrance of fresh grass and flowers, perfectly capturing the essence of the budding spring.

Unfortunately, Liu Mian Tang had been getting up very late these days, and it seemed that even spring had come late for her.

Although it was already late morning, the master bedroom of the small town house in the northwest remained tightly shut, with no sign of anyone getting up to call for water.

After a while, a slender, snow-white arm emerged from behind the closed curtains, reaching out to retrieve the inner garment hanging on a nearby chair.

However, in no time, a strong hand wrapped around the arm, pulling her back.

Since returning home from the hot springs, Liu Mian Tang had been constantly entangled with her husband, and they had been indulging day and night for three days straight.

At this moment, she recalled Dr. Zhao’s advice to “be cautious with medicine” and deeply regretted it.

Who would have thought that a simple kidney-tonifying medicinal wine would invigorate her husband to such an extent, as if he had become a completely different person?

Liu Mian Tang couldn’t remember the days after their wedding, so she wasn’t sure if her husband’s behavior was due to excessive tonification. But she was certain that her current fragile stamina was struggling to keep up with him.

So, when her husband once again began to demand more, she pleaded, “Husband, the drugstore hasn’t opened for several days. I need to go manage it… Shouldn’t you also return to Jin Jia Pass?”

Cui Xingzhou's insomnia had significantly improved these past few days. This morning, he felt in good spirits and was thinking of continuing the romantic escapades from the previous night. However, upon hearing his wife's words urging him to leave, his gaze darkened slightly as he asked, "What? Do you want to chase me away?"

Liu Mian Tang, lying on his chest, pouted slightly and said, "Who’s chasing you away? I’m just worried you might delay important matters… Do you think I should prepare some fire-clearing medicine for you?"

Prince Huaiyang raised an eyebrow and succinctly replied, "From now on, don’t casually prescribe medicine to anyone!"

In truth, he had indeed become somewhat too absorbed in the pleasures of their time together. Cui Xingzhou decided he would return to Jin Jia Pass after breakfast.

After several days of indulgence with her husband, Liu Mian Tang felt as though her waist might break.

Despite her husband’s usually refined and reserved demeanor, in the dim light behind the closed curtains, the gentleman transformed into something akin to a wild beast...

Thinking of this, Liu Mian Tang felt a warm flush rise to her cheeks, turning them pink.

Bi Cao was applying powder to Liu Mian Tang and couldn’t help but praise, “Your natural complexion is so good, with a rosy glow that doesn’t even need rouge.”

At that moment, Cui Xingzhou came over, looked at Liu Mian Tang’s styled hair, and casually selected a bird-shaped hairpin from the dressing box. “This is a gift I bought for you. How about wearing it today?”

Liu Mian Tang smiled and nodded, lowering her head slightly so Cui Xingzhou could pin it in place.

After Liu Mian Tang finished washing and dressing, she left with her two maidservants. Cui Xingzhou also left with Mo Ru and several guards, heading out of the pass.

Her husband mentioned that he had accumulated a lot of mundane tasks over the past few days and would return in a couple of days. Liu Mian Tang planned to visit the pharmacy to meet some drug merchants and restock supplies.

Perhaps because the shop had been closed for a few days, as soon as the doors were opened, customers came in one after another to get their prescriptions filled.

The shop assistants were busy, and Liu Mian Tang, unable to manage the inventory, focused on handling payments at the counter.

Amidst the crowd in the pharmacy, a man wearing a headscarf walked in. After asking the assistant for some medicine to treat external injuries and stop bleeding, he approached Liu Mian Tang to pay for the medicine.

However, among the coins the man handed over, there was a folded note.

Liu Mian Tang frowned and unfolded it, which had only a line of small writing: “I am your uncle. Today, due to misfortune, I cannot meet with you in person. There are many soldiers around, so do not make a fuss. Come to the west gate at noon, and remember not to bring anyone else!”

Liu Mian Tang looked up in surprise and saw the man lower his scarf to reveal his face.

She recognized that face immediately—it was Liu Kun, the bodyguard from her maternal grandfather's family!

When she was a young girl, Liu Kun would accompany her to the street to buy candied fruit whenever she visited her grandfather’s house.

If it hadn’t been for the note, Liu Mian Tang might have called out in surprise.

But Liu Kun gave a timely glance, signaling her to remain quiet, and then picked up his medicine bag and left.

At that moment, Fan Hu approached and, watching Liu Kun’s departing figure, asked, “Mistress, is something wrong?”

Liu Mian Tang calmly continued sorting the coins and replied, “Nothing. You can go about your business!”

So, Fan Hu went off to sweep the floor.

But Liu Mian Tang's heart was in turmoil. The handwriting on the note was unmistakably from her eldest uncle, Lu Xian.

His writing was precise; her mother had once asked her to learn to write from him.

Receiving news from her grandfather’s family stirred her emotions, but more than that, she was filled with worry.

Why didn’t her uncle come to see her in person? And why was there a stern warning in the note not to bring anyone else?

What could have happened to her uncle Lu Xian?

After thinking for a while, Liu Mian Tang concluded that her eldest uncle must be facing a difficult situation.

With that in mind, she took some cash from the money cabinet, wrapped it in a small package, and planned to slip out at noon when the shop assistants weren’t paying attention.

However, when she was about to leave, she found that the shop assistants seemed impossible to shake off.

Whether she made excuses to stand outside the door or to select colored threads at the sewing shop across the street, Fan Hu always followed her closely.

Irritated, Liu Mian Tang frowned and said, “It’s already noon. Brother Fan, you and the others should go have a drink. Don’t keep following me!”

After saying this, Liu Mian Tang took out a silver ingot and handed it to Fan Hu and the others.

Fan Hu and his men exchanged glances and, with a tacit understanding, turned to leave with the silver.

Liu Mian Tang finally breathed a sigh of relief and then walked along the stone-paved road leading to the west gate, exiting the West Gate of Wuning Pass.

Outside the West Gate was a peach blossom grove, and after walking a little, she soon spotted Liu Kun.

He cautiously looked around to ensure no one was following, then whispered to Liu Mian Tang, “The master is gravely injured and has been running a fever for the past few days. Please come with me quickly to see him…”

Liu Mian Tang had many questions to ask but could only follow Liu Kun into the carriage, heading swiftly towards the ruined temple.

Upon alighting from the carriage, Liu Mian Tang saw her once-robust eldest uncle now gaunt and emaciated, and she could hardly hold back her tears.

It had only been a few years; how had her once well-fed uncle become so thin?

But her eldest uncle seemed even more shocked. He struggled to rise and, with trembling lips, said, “Mian Tang… child, why didn’t you contact us sooner if you were alive? I, your uncle, was so distressed that he fell seriously ill…”

Liu Mian Tang was momentarily taken aback by her uncle's words and blinked in confusion, “I’ve been well at my husband’s home. Although I was ill earlier, it wasn’t life-threatening. What do you mean, Uncle?”

Everyone in the ruined temple was astonished. A husband’s family? Where did Liu Mian Tang's husband’s family come from?

After many years apart, the uncle and niece were entangled in a web of confusion on both sides.

When Lu Xian heard that his niece had lost her memory and had been cared for by her husband, Cui Jiu, he smacked his thigh in frustration and said, “When did you marry Cui Jiu? Don’t you really remember? At that time, you contacted your grandfather, Lu Mu, who then arranged for people to pretend to be bandits and take you away!”

Liu Mian Tang's body stiffened slightly as she stared in disbelief, her voice trembling as she said, “No… it’s impossible. My husband is so kind; how could I have thought of running away from the marriage?”

Lu Xian shook his head helplessly and said, “What’s so good about it? Didn’t you see Cui Jiu coming out of the city to meet you? You thought he was too unattractive, with his fat face and ugly appearance, which made you want to run away from the marriage?”

Liu Mian Tang’s expression remained frozen. “It’s impossible. My husband… he looks great…”

Liu Kun, standing nearby, understood the situation and slapped his thigh in frustration. “Miss, don’t you realize? You’ve encountered a scoundrel who deceives people for their looks!”

Liu Mian Tang suddenly came to her senses, shaking her head desperately. “No! My husband… he’s not like that!”

A multitude of doubts surged into her mind.

Initially, there was his distant and indifferent attitude towards her, and his reluctance to return home... Liu Mian Tang felt as if her mind was exploding. Standing in the ruined temple, it felt like she was caught in a bizarre dream. She even closed her eyes and dug her nails into her palms, hoping to wake up from this nightmare soon...

At that moment, there was a clamor of voices outside the ruined temple. In the darkening night, the temple was surrounded by a crowd of soldiers.

Amidst the flames, a tall man in a black cloak led the soldiers, his expression stern and menacing as he appeared at the entrance of the temple.

Liu Mian Tang slowly turned around, staring at him with a blank expression.

He looked just as he always did, with an indescribable air of nobility, a straight nose, and thin lips—intimidating even without anger.

How could such a man possibly be the son of a merchant? How could he be her husband, Cui Jiu?

For a moment, Liu Mian Tang could not think of anything. She quietly recalled the morning, when her husband had helped her with her hair, whispering by her ear if she wanted to wear the hairpin he had bought for her. She had smiled back at him and then lowered her head, allowing him to pin the sparrow-head hairpin into her hair...

Cui Xingzhou waved his hand, and the soldiers marched in, surrounding everyone in the ruined temple. After receiving news from Fan Hu, he had come with his troops.

Actually, he had been outside the ruined temple for a long time, long enough to learn that the people inside were Liu Mian Tang's maternal uncle, Lu Xian, and to deduce that Lu Xian had informed Liu Mian Tang that he was not her husband, Cui Jiu.

He took long strides and walked steadily to Liu Mian Tang's side, reaching out to take her hand. However, just as she was about to fall into his embrace, Liu Mian Tang quickly pulled out the hairpin from her head and thrust it directly at him.

If her hand hadn't been injured, she might have had a chance to hit her target. However, Prince Huaiyang had long known of her tendency to use hairpins as weapons, so he tightly gripped her hand and looked deeply into her eyes, coldly asking, "Are you trying to kill me?"

Liu Mian Tang stared back at him with wide eyes, demanding, "Who exactly are you?"

Liu Kun had seen Cui Xingzhou before, but only through a hat that obscured his face, so he only had a general impression of his figure. Now, in the bright light of the torches, he could clearly see the face of the scoundrel.

To be honest, Cui Xingzhou's appearance was impeccable. Even Liu Kun, who had seen many people, had to admit that he was an extraordinarily handsome man. 

But if he looked so good, he should not have lacked women. Why did he go so far as to deceive Liu Mian Tang into believing he was her husband?

Realizing this, Liu Kun sprang forward, determined to rescue Liu Mian Tang. Despite his impressive skills as the top escort in the Shenwei Escort Agency, his martial prowess seemed like mere showy moves in front of Cui Xingzhou.

Cui Xingzhou stood unmoved, effortlessly deflecting Liu Kun's attack with a deft twist of his wrist, and with a flick of his fingers, struck a pressure point on Liu Kun's arm. 

Liu Kun felt a jolt of pain, his arm going numb and causing him to lose his balance and stagger back several steps, where he was caught by the other two escort guards from the Shenwei Escort Agency.

Cui Xingzhou did not glance at anyone else, his cold, menacing gaze fixed solely on Liu Mian Tang, who was struggling in his grasp. The thought that she had dared to attack him fueled his fury, overshadowing his slight discomfort at having his true identity exposed.

Meanwhile, Liu Mian Tang's confusion and anger reached their peak. In that moment, she realized the undeniable truth: he had deceived her, knowing full well that she was not married to him but still had taken advantage of her.

Just as Liu Kun shouted, “Release my young lady at once! You’ve been pursuing us, the men, all this time. If you have any guts, come after us, not a helpless woman!”

Mian Tang's eyes widened in realization. She suddenly understood that the large group of soldiers had come to arrest her uncle and Liu Kun. The thought of her injured uncle and the pursuit they had faced spurred her to action. 

She raised her hand and slapped Cui Xingzhou hard across the face. Cui Xingzhou could have easily avoided the blow, but he chose to endure it, his face turning slightly but his expression remaining impassive.

Shaking with anger, Mian Tang demanded, "What are you doing? Are you here to arrest my uncle?"

Seeing the situation escalate, Mo Ru could no longer stay silent and spoke up for his master, "If our master hadn't arrived in time, you would all be trapped in this broken temple with no way out. Instead of thanking him, you repay him with violence. Truly ungrateful!"

At this moment, several soldiers dragged in a few restrained individuals. They were all injured and tightly bound, revealing the severity of the situation.

Liu Kun recognized the men being dragged in—those were the very ones who had been pursuing them, with the scar-faced man responsible for seriously injuring the Master.

Mo Ru, still fuming, continued to explain to Mian Tang, "Madam, our master heard you were alone outside the city and feared for your safety, so he rushed here with his men. Besides the few we've apprehended inside the broken temple, there are still over a dozen men hiding in the surrounding wilderness! Without our intervention, you and the others, weak and injured as you are, would have been no match for them."

Despite his high fever and significant blood loss, Uncle Lu was sharp-eyed and perceptive. Though he had been furious upon learning that Mian Tang had been deceived into a sham marriage, he now saw that the man pretending to be Cui Xingzhou was not the type to be a mere deceiver. His skills in combat were impressive, suggesting a high level of training.

Indeed, this man's capabilities far exceeded those of the "fat merchant" her father had arranged for her. He seemed well-matched with Mian Tang, who had been missing for nearly two years. Clearly, she had lived as a wife with the imposter, making it all the more difficult to accept the truth now.

Though Lu Xian was enraged that this man had deceived his niece, his primary concern as an uncle was Mian Tang’s reputation and future happiness. He managed to suppress his anger and, with difficulty, forced himself to thank the imposter Cui Xingzhou, trying to maintain some dignity. He planned to understand the situation thoroughly before making further decisions. If this man truly loved Mian Tang and wasn’t inherently wicked, there might still be room for reconciliation.

However, if this military-looking fellow had mistreated his niece, Lu Xian vowed he would fight to the end, no matter the cost.

In the broken temple, amidst the chaos, Lu Xian finally made himself clear. Cui Xingzhou, having retracted his stern gaze, coldly addressed Mian Tang: “This severely injured gentleman is obviously someone important to you. His condition is critical and needs immediate treatment. If you wish to question me, you’ll have to wait until he’s been safely transported back to the city for medical care.”

Understanding the urgency and reasoning in his words, Mian Tang struggled free from his grasp and turned to support her injured uncle out of the broken temple. For a moment, she had truly misjudged Cui Xingzhou, fearing he intended harm to her uncle.

Mian Tang struggled to find any excuse to forgive Cui Xingzhou for impersonating her husband. Her only option was to first ensure her uncle received medical attention and then to take some time alone to process the bizarre events of the past two years.

Once the group arrived at Jin Jia Pass, the military doctors quickly entered the tent to treat Lu Xian. Meanwhile, Cui Xingzhou sat calmly, questioning the others about why they had been pursued.

After taking a fever-reducing medicine, Lu Xian’s mind cleared somewhat. Despite his clearer head, he avoided answering Cui Xingzhou’s questions directly and instead asked him about his identity.

Cui Xingzhou glanced at Mian Tang, who had her back to him, and succinctly explained, “I am an official from the court investigating the Yangshan Bandits. What is your connection to Yangshan?”

He chose not to reveal his true identity as Prince Huaiyang, to avoid alarming them. By simply stating that he was a government official and mentioning their involvement with Yangshan, he aimed to prevent any deceit and to make clear the gravity of their situation.

Lu Xian recognized that Cui Xingzhou was an official, given the strict military discipline at Jin Jia Pass and the respect shown by the soldiers. It was clear that his position was significant.

Realizing the possible motives behind Cui Xingzhou's deception, Lu Xian spoke up, “Did you deceive Mian Tang with the intention of using her as bait to lure the Yangshan Bandits?”

Hearing this, Mian Tang’s hands trembled slightly as she was tending to her uncle’s wounds. Her shock and fear were evident.

Cui Xingzhou, who had been watching Mian Tang’s reactions closely, took a deep breath and responded, “I originally rescued her from the water. She was gravely injured, with her tendons severed. I arranged for her to be treated. She lost a segment of her memory and mistakenly believed I was her husband, Cui Jiu. My surname is Cui, and I am indeed the ninth in my family, but I did not intentionally deceive her.”

Lu Xian was taken aback by the revelation of Mian Tang’s injuries. His eyes widened, and he was visibly distressed, his lips trembling as he spoke, “You mean she was gravely wounded and fell into the water?”

Cui Xingzhou, curious about the details of the water incident, added, “Mr. Lu, please tell us everything you know. It will be better for both you and Mian Tang. If there’s something significant, I’ll see what I can do to help, considering Mian Tang’s situation.”

Lu Xian had long harbored dissatisfaction with the Yangshan faction, especially since Mian Tang had once been infatuated with the Young Master Zi Yu and had become entangled with them.

Remembering how he had sent people to search for Mian Tang and received the news that she had been framed by Yun'niang, pursued, and gravely injured before drowning, Lu Xian’s heart ached.

Given the situation, it does align with the account of Cui Xingzhou rescuing Mian Tang from drowning.

To Lu Xian, Mian Tang’s past entanglement with Zi Yu seemed like a cursed fate. Whether Zi Yu, a royal descendant, ended up in great wealth or met with a tragic end, it had nothing to do with his Mian Tang!

Since Mian Tang had been injured and lost her memory due to what happened, it felt like a twist of fate. She had forgotten her past entanglements with Zi Yu and her experiences with Yangshan. Such a life was not meant for a young lady of her status!

Realizing this, Lu Xian decided to keep Mian Tang’s past as the Yangshan leader “Lu Wen” a secret and ensure that no one else would find out. He resolved to shoulder the burden and protect her reputation as her uncle.

© translations belonging to  flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com. If you read this somewhere else instead of flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com then the translations has been posted WITHOUT permission of translator.

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