Chapter 88: Jiao Cang "Delicate Concealment" / Are You the One

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 Jiao Cang "Delicate Concealment" / Are You the One

 Chapter 88: 

 

However, Liu Mian Tang didn’t have time to play the role of a gentle and understanding daughter-in-law. At this moment, they were still on the run from their pursuers.

At the checkpoint earlier, the scout she had sent reported that any wealthy families fleeing with their households had been detained. The bandits were specifically checking elderly women and young, beautiful women. It was said that anyone who resembled the portraits they carried was immediately taken away in carriages.

This confirmed Liu Mian Tang’s suspicions that the fake rebels were indeed targeting the Old Princess Consort and her son, Prince Huaiyang.

She had previously instructed Fan Hu to avoid rushing through the checkpoints and to find a place to stay with the remaining people. Therefore, she wouldn’t take the Old Princess Consort into danger.

Due to her previous searches for artisans and porcelain workshops in the countryside, Liu Mian Tang was familiar with the surrounding counties and villages. She found a small thatched hut where she had once stayed, which was located at the back of a mountain ridge and not far from the official road but not easily discovered. However, if soldiers came, they would hear the sound of horses’ hooves first, giving them time to escape into the deep mountains.

Fearing that the number of people would be too large and the target too obvious, Liu Mian Tang brought only four guards with her, in addition to the two personal maidservants.

She had the four guards take turns on watch during the night and instructed the The Old Princess Consort to warm herself by the fire in the dilapidated thatched hut and prepare some thin porridge to drink.

Even though Old Princess Consort Chu had been neglected by her husband for many years, she had never been so panicked and disheveled before. Seeing that Liu Mian Tang didn’t seem to be in a hurry to leave, she asked, “Why aren’t we moving? What if the bandits catch up with us?”

Liu Mian Tang handed a bowl of porridge to the Old Princess Consort and said, “The bandits likely believe we are trying to break through the encirclement, so they are tightening their inspections at the checkpoints. If we rush out now, we might end up walking right into their trap. It’s better to remain here and wait for them to tire out.”

The Old Princess Consort was still unsettled and murmured about wanting to find her son.

Liu Mian Tang, not feeling urgent anymore, picked up the demeanor of a gentle lady, smiling as she reassured the Old Princess Consort that the Prince should be fine.

Liu Mian Tang wasn’t just trying to comfort the Old Princess Consort. She had initially thought that the postal route to Dongzhou had been cut off to prevent Prince Huaiyang from seeking help. But now it seemed that the intention was to block any chance of help coming to Zhenzhou.

If nothing unexpected happens, Zhenzhou is now isolated and helpless, like a solitary island.

However, the fall of Zhenzhou and the flight of refugees would soon become known, and the surrounding counties would have to send reinforcements, even if just for show.

At that point, these fake peasant rebels would not dare to engage with the reinforcements and would naturally disperse.

Liu Mian Tang calculated that the round trip would take about four days.

As long as they can endure those four days, they will eventually see the light at the end of the tunnel!

With this thought, Liu Mian Tang’s smile became more genuine, which somehow made people feel reassured.

After feeding the Old Princess Consort the porridge, she prepared a straw mattress for her to sleep on. When Liu Mian Tang went to cover her with a blanket, the Old Princess Consort pulled her hand and said timidly, “Mian Tang, sleep next to me, or I’m afraid…”

Liu Mian Tang looked at the woman who had always maintained a strict demeanor before her, now clinging to her like a three-year-old child, and found it rather amusing.

However, respecting her future mother-in-law’s dignity, she refrained from laughing and gently said, “Alright, I’ll sleep next to you. There are plenty of red mountain fruits on the mountain at this time of year. I’ll pick some for you tomorrow; I’m sure you’ll like them…”

The Old Princess Consort felt reassured by Liu Mian Tang’s sweet and gentle words. Outside, the wind suddenly picked up and heavy rain began to fall, but with this young woman by her side, it seemed that nothing was too troubling.

The Old Princess Consort Chu had only now begun to slowly understand why her son, who had always been so high and mighty and dismissive of women, had chosen this particular woman of lowly birth.

It was as if she was a wildflower beaten by a sudden storm, possessing a kind of tenacity and wildness that set her apart from the cultivated blooms. Once one began to appreciate her, it was difficult to look away.

Let us leave aside the image of the pair of mother-in-law and daughter-in-law huddling together in the thatched hut.

Returning to the study of Prince Sui, the atmosphere was one of grim severity.

“Didn’t you say the operations were discreet and without any flaws? Why are all the masters of the Zhenzhou Prince Regent Masnion missing?”

Over the past two days, the troops he had sent to impersonate King Lu's bandits had been continuously returning with captives. But not a single one of the elderly ladies and young women was the Old Princess Consort Chu or Princess Huaisang.

Prince Sui had schemed for so long, using the opportunity of Prince Huaiyang’s trip to bribe his subordinates, sinking the island ships, and trapping him on the island. He had then cut off the postal routes and dispatched teams disguised as rebel armies to capture the family members of Prince Huaiyang.

Prince Huaiyang was known for his filial piety. As long as he had Old Princess Consort Chu and that young bandit girl in his grasp, he was confident that Prince Huaiyang would obediently write a resignation letter, relinquishing his command and transferring the military power to Liu Pei.

However, a meticulously planned strategy encountered a deviation during execution. The Old Princess Consort Chu, who should have been waiting to be captured, had vanished without a trace overnight.

With Prince Huaiyang already escaping the island, the opportunity was fleeting, and Prince Sui’s anxiety was palpable.

At this moment, someone entered the study to report: “Your Highness, there is new information from Zhenzhou. The family of Prince Huaiyang’s uncle, Lian Hanshan, has been captured.”

Prince Sui’s eyes lit up, and he stood up from his desk, asking, “Is it the Lian family that fled with Old Princess Consort Chu? Have they been interrogated to determine if they escaped with Old Princess Consort Chu and where they went?”

The messenger quickly replied, “They were interrogated immediately, and both the master and the servants confessed. They said it was Princess Huaisang who sent people to rescue Old Princess Consort Chu from outside Zhenzhou.”

The messenger then detailed how Liu Mian Tang had left the manor in advance, discovered the disguised enemy troops in Lingquan Town, personally infiltrated the mountain cave, rescued Old Princess Consort Chu, and used a strategy to lure the enemy away, deceiving them.

Prince Sui narrowed his fox-like eyes, and finally couldn't help but let out a cold laugh: "What a cunning strategist, Lu Wen. I underestimated you before."

Although he had long known that Liu Mian Tang was the amnesiac Lu Wen, he had underestimated her after seeing her delicate and fragile appearance. He had thought that her past reputation for being a brilliant strategist was just a matter of impressing others.

Little did he know that many of the former Eastern Palace troops on Yangshan were seasoned warriors who had fought and died together. She combined their strengths and used them as her own achievements to curry favor with Zi Yu.

After all, his adopted daughter, Sun Yun, had also spoken of her this way, saying that the woman was merely strong in martial arts, arrogant, and fond of claiming others' achievements, which caused discontent among the troops on the mountain.

From the beginning until now, this woman, whom he had always underestimated and not taken seriously, had been hiding right under his nose, dismantling his carefully devised plan into pieces!

Prince Sui felt a surge of regret. If only he had valued her more before, he wouldn't have allowed her to slip out of his control and travel to the northwest, becoming a capable ally for Cui Xingzhou. But regret was useless now. He slowly sat down and asked, "Since she is so formidable, how was the Lian family captured?"

The messenger replied, "It was fortunate for the Prince. Liu Mian Tang had instructed the Lian family to separate from the Cui family and settle in a remote village, advising them not to rashly break through the checkpoints. However, Madam Lian Chu couldn't tolerate the fleas in the rural dwelling, and after just one night, she insisted on going to visit distant relatives in Linzhou. As a result, the entire family with several carriages, along with gold and silver valuables, were all detained at the checkpoint."

Prince Sui smiled slightly, "Fortunately, the Old Princess Consort Chu has such a delicate aunt. Otherwise, this time, I might have really wasted my efforts."

Since Liu Mian Tang had given such instructions to the Lian family, it indicated that she was also not in a hurry to break through the checkpoint…

Two days after the closure of Zhenzhou, the checkpoints guarded by the bandits suddenly reduced their numbers. Meanwhile, a large force was deployed to search the surrounding villages and countryside of Zhenzhou.

The rural areas seemed to be combed like a sieve, with searches happening day and night.

However, the thatched wilderness inn Liu Mian Tang had chosen, located close to the official road, became a "black spot under the lamp." Despite the constant clatter of horse hooves passing by, it was never searched.

But Old Princess Consort Chu felt as though her heart was about to jump out from the incessant noise of the horse hooves day and night. After several trips through the woods, she had become haggard and caught a chill in the night, falling ill with a high fever.

Liu Mian Tang felt her burning forehead and knew that this fever could not continue. Fortunately, she was a makeshift doctor and managed to gather some antipyretic herbs from the mountains to prepare a decoction for the The Old Princess consort, which helped reduce her fever.

Liu Mian Tang knew that the bandits' sudden change in strategy must have been due to some clue they had found. It might be the Lian family or the two maidservants who had been discovered by the bandits.

Therefore, if they did not find anything in the countryside, they would likely expand their search area.

And this "black spot under the lamp" wouldn’t remain safe for long.

Liu Mian Tang was also feeling anxious, wondering why the reinforcements were delayed and what might be happening with Cui Xingzhou at this moment. Could it be that he had encountered some mishap?

While Liu Mian Tang was in a state of indecision, one of the guards who was keeping watch outside suddenly rushed in to report, "Princess, a suspicious group is approaching here!"

Hearing this, Liu Mian Tang was startled and quickly went outside to check.

Indeed, not far away, a dozen or so ragged men were carrying a stretcher and hastily making their way toward the thatched inn. It seemed they had also chosen this place to rest.

Liu Mian Tang instructed the two guards not to panic. Since the group of people was in tattered clothes and did not resemble the bandits, they could pretend to be fleeing villagers and leave the thatched inn to them.

However, just as Liu Mian Tang was helping the Old Princess Consort and passing by them, the leader of the group, a lean young man, stared intently at the side of Liu Mian Tang's face.

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