Chapter 91: Jiao Cang "Delicate Concealment" (Are You the One)
FlamingoBees
Translating Chinese Historical Dramas for your enjoyment... and mine! :)
Jiao Cang "Delicate Concealment" / Are You the One
Chapter 91:
Mian Tang and Bi Cao were both taken aback by the reaction of the brothers. They hadn’t expected such a response to the news of a marriage.
Mian Tang struggled to maintain her composure, “Who said I’m marrying him… to assassinate him?”
The brothers' cries were silenced by her words. They stared at Mian Tang in stunned silence, unable to grasp why she would marry Prince Huaiyang.
Lu Yi was the first to speak up, “Did he capture you before… and then forced you into marriage because he desired you?”
Realizing she could no longer hide her memory loss, Mian Tang decided to be straightforward, hoping to prevent the brothers from speculating.
“He didn’t force me. Rather, he saved me…” Mian Tang then recounted the past events of being betrayed and left in the river after her tendons were severed by treacherous men.
Upon learning the true reason behind her long absence, the brothers were overwhelmed with grief, their eyes filled with tears. They could hardly bear to think of how Mian Tang had suffered alone, gravely injured and abandoned in the water.
Lu Yi clenched his fists, his face reflecting a desire to take Mian Tang's suffering upon himself.
However, Mian Tang felt that the brothers had missed the point, so she clarified, “In short, it was Prince Huaiyang who rescued me and provided medical treatment. I’ve forgotten that part of my past on Yangshan, and I don’t quite recognize you all…”
Lu Quan wiped his nose and, choking up, said, “No wonder you were so wary when you first saw us and didn’t acknowledge us. It turns out you lost your memory due to Prince Huaiyang’s actions. He first sent soldiers to kill you, and then pretended to be your husband. It’s truly despicable! I, Lu Quan, swear I will not rest until I’ve avenged you by killing Cui Xingzhou!”
The other brothers also looked grim, clearly agreeing with Lu Quan’s sentiments.
To them, the story of Mian Tang and Cui Xingzhou seemed far more straightforward than it truly was.
Their hatred for Prince Huaiyang was so deeply ingrained that it was difficult to shift their views. They were convinced that Prince Huaiyang had deceived their leader.
After all, aside from her remarkable skills, their leader was an exceptionally beautiful woman. It was entirely plausible that Prince Huaiyang might have taken an interest in her.
Listening to Lu Quan's words, Mian Tang felt that things were spiraling out of control. She stood up, her expression stern, and said, “Whoever told you that Prince Huaiyang harmed me is mistaken. I intend to marry him genuinely and live a proper life. You must stop thinking about revenge. Once your injuries are healed, I will give you some money, and you should live your lives well.”
Hearing this, the brothers became anxious again. They knelt and refused to rise, saying, “Leader, our lives are yours to take. We will stay by your side no matter what. Besides, we are not in need of money… After all, you entrusted us with a large sum when you left the mountain!”
Although the leader had not embezzled the old wealth from Yangshan Mountain's treasury, she had earned a substantial amount herself over the years. She had made significant profits from her share, fearing that putting all her eggs in one basket might lead to disaster.
So, Mian Tang had entrusted the land deeds and account books to the four brothers for safekeeping. For all this time, they had not dared to spend recklessly, preserving everything for their leader.
When Mian Tang looked at the account books handed over by Lu Yi, she was momentarily stunned by the recorded amount of money.
Recently, she had discovered she was a bandit leader and now found herself with a substantial fortune. It was indeed overwhelming.
However, the brothers had lived up to their loyalty and righteousness. Despite holding such vast wealth, they had not harbored any greed. Such pure and virtuous people were truly rare in the world.
Unable to shake off the loyal and persistent brothers, Mian Tang decided not to ignore them. She said, "Here's what we'll do: keep this money for me, and use it to buy a house in Zhenzhou. I also have land and property; if you’re willing, you can help manage them. Although there are some corrupt officials in the area, that doesn't mean you should start a rebellion just because there's injustice. Stirring up public outrage is easy, but it's rare to truly benefit the people and improve their lives. You must not repeat the kind of chaos we saw in Dongzhou."
The advice from Liu Mian Tang about being law-abiding and avoiding chaos might sound unconvincing to those who know her past, but to these loyal brothers who have always revered her, her words carry weight. The fact that she allows them to stay is already a great comfort. They believe that if the "Great Leader" is to marry Cui Xingzhou, it must be due to temporary deception, and they are hopeful she will come to her senses. As long as they are there to protect her, she won’t suffer.
Just then, the sound of horse hooves and voices approaching the nearby official road could be heard from the thatched cottage.
Liu Quan hurried outside to the ridge to check and came back with a worried expression, "It’s bad! The officials are coming!"
His shout immediately put everyone on high alert. They sprang into action, drawing their knives and clenching their fists, ready to fight if necessary.
Liu Mian Tang asked, "Have any of you been seen by the officials or their subordinates from Prince Huaiyang?"
Liu Yi shook his head, "During the battle, we used soot to disguise our faces, and in Dongzhou, we wore false beards. They won’t recognize us..."
Liu Mian Tang breathed a sigh of relief, saying, "There's no need to be so tense. Just wait until the soldiers leave, and then you can go."
Despite her reassurances, the brothers remained on edge. Their past encounters with soldiers made them wary, and they couldn't relax even with Liu Mian Tang's calming words.
Unfortunately, the soldiers seemed to be lingering nearby, their presence growing increasingly noisy.
As someone approached the thatched cottage, Liu Mian Tang couldn't help but step outside to see who it was.
To her surprise, the person approaching was a tall man who appeared to be the leader. His hair was somewhat disheveled, as if he hadn't had a chance to groom it for several days. Strands of hair fell beside his face, adding to his intense demeanor. His brows were sharp, his eyes carried a hint of sternness, and his chin was dotted with stubble. This rugged appearance contrasted sharply with his usual refined and scholarly air, giving him a distinctly magnetic presence.
Liu Mian Tang immediately recognized Cui Xingzhou and rushed towards him like an eager rabbit. However, halfway there, she suddenly remembered the people inside the thatched cottage and skidded to a halt.
But Cui Xingzhou had already spotted her. He quickly closed the distance and pulled Liu Mian Tang into a tight embrace.
In recent days, Prince Sui had sent messages, but they mostly involved disassociating himself from the chaos in Zhenzhou, claiming that the disturbances had nothing to do with him, and showing no urgency to exchange prisoners.
If it weren't for the soldiers Cui Xingzhou had sent to check local towns and identify suspicious individuals, who found Fan Hu and the two concubines, he might have thought that Prince Sui was simply biding his time.
It turned out that the Prince had neither captured Liu Mian Tang nor his mother.
Despite searching all the towns, Liu Mian Tang and her group remained elusive, clearly hiding much more effectively than the concubines.
Cui Xingzhou, fearing further complications and potential dangers, did not wait for them to come to him. Instead, he ordered a thorough search of the area.
Today, as Cui Xingzhou's men were about to leave, he suddenly recalled a secluded spot he had discovered during a hunting trip. He decided to redirect his horses and return to that location.
To his surprise, he indeed found Liu Mian Tang emerging from the thatched cottage. She appeared slightly thinner, dressed in men’s clothing with a face smeared as if she had been through a rough ordeal. The sight caused Cui Xingzhou’s heart to ache and burn with a fierce desire to hold her tightly and never let her go.
Meanwhile, the brothers inside the thatched cottage saw their leader being embraced by a tall, handsome man.
Lu Quan was immediately enraged, wanting to rush over and punch the impudent suitor. However, Bi Cao quickly restrained him, saying, “Our prince is reuniting with the princess. This is not your place to interfere! Don’t make a scene and spoil the moment!”
Lu Quan, upon closer inspection, realized that the man resembled the formidable general he had seen on the battlefield in Eastern Province, wearing golden armor and a helmet, which had obscured his true appearance. Now, seeing him clearly, Cui Xingzhou was even more handsome and tall than he had imagined, surpassing even the well-regarded Zi Yu Gongzi. It was no wonder Liu Mian Tang was so captivated that she was willing to marry him without hesitation.
Lu Yi, biting his lip, observed Liu Mian Tang's unmasked joy and shyness as she gazed adoringly at the handsome man holding her. The affection they displayed was unmistakable.
It seemed that their leader had fallen in love with someone she shouldn’t have.
Cui Xingzhou, holding his beloved close and warming her for a while, finally looked up and noticed the group of men standing with visible hostility in front of the thatched cottage.
“Who are they?” Cui Xingzhou asked, his tone calm but scrutinizing.
Liu Mian Tang, maintaining her composure, replied, “They are a group of kind-hearted big brothers. When Bi Cao and I went down the mountain to find food, we were harassed by some ruffians. These brothers came to our rescue, and one of them got injured while saving me. I was just treating his wound when you arrived…”
Cui Xingzhou took her hand and led her to the front of the thatched cottage.
Liu Mian Tang, standing behind Cui Xingzhou, shot a stern look at the “Loyal and Righteous” group but spoke gently, “This is Prince Huaiyang of Zhenzhou. He is not a villain. You should greet him properly.”
Lu Yi, with a serious expression, was the first to kneel and said, “Commoner greets His Highness the Prince…”
The other three brothers, under Liu Mian Tang’s stern gaze, also lowered their heads, sheathed their hostility, and knelt to pay their respects.
Cui Xingzhou calmly surveyed the interior of the thatched cottage. He noted the sewing kit and the lingering scent of medicinal alcohol, evidence that Liu Mian Tang had indeed been tending to wounds.
He inquired briefly about the origins of the men, learning that they had been living on the streets since childhood, relying on begging and wandering without any official residence.
Liu Mian Tang interjected, “The Old Princess Consort is freshening up. She should be done soon. Prince, you should go greet her. She has been quite anxious and worried these days…”
© 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.
•••
Prev : TOC : Next
https://ko-fi.com/flamingobeestranslations
https://twitter.com/FlamingoBee2009
Thank You For Reading <3
Comments
Post a Comment
What did you think of this chapter?