Chapter 152: Jiao Cang "Delicate Concealment" / Are You the One

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 Jiao Cang "Delicate Concealment" / Are You the One

 

 Chapter 152: 

 

Eikushi-ji had his shoulder dislocated by Cui Xingzhou earlier, and although his subordinates helped him after he escaped, the pain from the silver needle still throbbed at the pressure point as he ascended the ship's dock with a sullen expression.

Looking back, he could see the mist rising on the other side of the sea, but the gentle voice of that woman seemed to echo in his ears.

After catching a glimpse of her through the western mirror on the small mountain, Eikushi-ji felt somewhat bewitched, unable to forget the enchanting woman.

Eventually, he and a few subordinates fluent in Chinese disembarked on land and happened to spot the makeshift medical tent in Cangwu County.

When that woman stepped down from the carriage, though she wore a conical hat and a veil, her graceful figure and poise were unmistakable.

Eikushi-ji immediately rushed to stand in line. However, while waiting, he overheard the villagers discussing her and learned that this heavenly beauty was actually the wife of the Great Yan’s commander, Prince Huaiyang.

He thought it made sense; someone so stunning could hardly be an unclaimed flower.

Yet, in their Eastern Japan, such a beauty would never belong to just one man. A captivating visage could sway an entire nation, making men willing to risk their lives to compete for her.

Eikushi-ji was someone who always pursued what he desired, and he had set his sights on this woman, even if she was already married!

As he pondered this, another sharp pang shot through the pressure point in his injured hand, reminding him that this exquisite flower was not only guarded by fierce dogs but was also a thorny rose herself.

However, as the wife of a martial general, it would be quite normal for her to have learned some skills from her husband; after all, they were just fancy moves and techniques, nothing remarkable.

But having been bewitched by her beauty twice, and having let his guard down in the process, Eikushi-ji felt a pang of frustration at his own carelessness.

Once he captured her, he would skin her former husband alive in front of her. She would soon understand who was worthy of being her new master!

With this thought, Eikushi-ji felt a long-lost sense of competitiveness igniting within him—Cui Xingzhou, the North Sea will be your grave!

Meanwhile, Mian Tang was completely unaware that someone on the isolated island across the sea was harboring sinister intentions toward her.

After being carried off by Cui Xingzhou and brought back to the mansion, Prince Huaiyang made it clear: “You are not allowed to leave the house again! Especially not to that medical tent; there are too many people, and why would you want to attract the attention of a bunch of riffraff?”

Holding little Yi'er, Mian Tang replied, “Look at your father, little Yi'er! He looks just like a roaring tiger! We’re not afraid, right?”

With that, she playfully kicked her husband’s taut, handsome face with her son’s chubby foot.

Cui Xingzhou’s authority as a husband was humorously placed beneath the sweaty little foot of their son. He took Yi'er from her and pinched his mischievous wife’s cheek, saying, “Are you teaching our son to take on his father to vent his mother’s frustrations?”

Mian Tang smiled and embraced both of them, saying, “You’re Prince Huaiyang; how could I dare? If I can’t go, it’s perfect! I can stay home and help sister with the accounts.”

Cui Xingzhou finally felt at ease. When the soldiers from the camp came looking for him, he hurried out. For the next few days, he wouldn’t be able to return as he planned to patrol along the coastline.

Hearing that the Marquis was arriving the next day, Cui Fu realized that the guest house prepared for him lacked decent furniture. So she began selecting a few pieces of acceptable furniture from various courtyards in her own manor to replace the inadequate items. She also instructed the servants to fumigate the rooms with aromatic herbs to drive away any pests.

After all, it wouldn’t be courteous for the visiting marquis to arrive only to have to slap cockroaches away with his shoe soles.

Once everything was tidied up, the house looked bright and presentable. While it couldn't compare to the grandeur of the royal residences in the capital, it was still passable. With everything in place, they were just waiting for the Marquis to arrive and make good use of the accommodations.

A couple of days ago, Cui Fu had exchanged simple courtesies with Lord Li Guangcai, and he had finally moved into her courtyard with his belongings.

Mian Tang kept Cui Xingzhou’s words in mind: whether he could win over Cui Fu would depend on Lord Li Guangcai’s skills.

So, that morning, Mian Tang woke up early, opened the window, and listened for any sounds from the courtyard. This amused Cui Xingzhou, who laughed and compared her to the gossiping women in Lingquan North Street, peering over the walls.

Liu Mian Tang nudged him with her foot, signaling him to be quiet and not disturb her eavesdropping.

That day, Cui Fu and her new husband got up a little later than usual. Lord Li Guangcai was the first to rise; he personally went out to ask the young maid for hot water and brought it back into their room himself.

Afterward, when Cui Fu finally got up, she had breakfast with Li Guangcai before seeing him off at the door, watching him mount his horse and head off to the military camp.

Throughout the day, Cui Fu and Liu Mian Tang spent their time embroidering and making shoe soles, both wearing bright smiles that had been absent for too long.

Liu Mian Tang once again believed the wise words of the old women from North Street: if the couple’s porridge isn’t bubbling, it truly lacks warmth!

Cui Fu finally began to feel the happiness of being newly married. As they listened to the courier’s reports, they realized that, according to the pace, the Marquis would be arriving the next day.

The next day, Liu Mian Tang obediently refrained from going to the medical tent. Instead, she took another look around the guest house prepared for the Marquis, ensuring everything was in order before waiting for him to arrive, eager to discuss the hardships faced by the people of Beihai due to the lack of medicine and healthcare.

However, as the sun rose high in the sky and then began its descent toward the horizon, Liu Mian Tang found herself waiting until sunset, but still, the marquis had not come.

Realizing she could no longer wait, she returned to her residence. When Cui Fu saw her come back, she asked if the Marquis had arrived. Liu Mian Tang shook her head and replied, “He hasn’t arrived yet.”

Cui Fu frowned with concern and said, “Why hasn’t the Marquis come? Could something have happened? With the Prince gone and Guangcai following him, there’s no one here to discuss things with…”

Li Mama, who was listening nearby, remarked, "The Marquis has always enjoyed wandering. He might have been captivated by the beautiful scenery and lost track of time. We should send some people to look for him."

After hearing Li Mama’s words, Liu Mian Tang found them reasonable and ordered Fan Hu to dispatch a group of guards on fast horses to search along the route.

As night fell, Liu Mian Tang found it hard to sleep, feeling uneasy about the situation.

The Marquis had already entered Beihai territory, and if something had really happened, not only would Cui Xingzhou be heartbroken over losing a close friend, but it would also be impossible to explain to the widows and orphans at the Marquis' residence!

While she was lost in her thoughts, the sound of hoofbeats suddenly echoed at the gate.

A few guards hurriedly returned, prompting Liu Mian Tang to quickly put on a long gown and make her way to the entrance. Soon after, Cui Fu heard the commotion and rushed over as well.

A young maid raised a large lantern, and in the dim light, they saw a blood-soaked man slumped on a horse.

He was brought before Liu Mian Tang, who noticed that he was a familiar face—one of the Marquis' guards who often accompanied him. The man knelt and gasped, "Quick... please save my lord! He was... taken by the pirates..."

After uttering those words, the guard, who had barely managed to reach the residence, suddenly collapsed as he lost consciousness.

Liu Mian Tang quickly ordered someone to bring a military doctor to treat the injured guard while she asked several guards where they had found him. The guards explained that they had ridden for over ten miles and discovered him on the road, where he was limping and using his sword for support. On the way back, the guard recounted the details of the attack.

It turned out that the Marquis Zhao's convoy had been ambushed on a hillside about five to six miles ahead.

It was noon when the Marquis and his guards reached the hill, and suddenly a volley of arrows rained down, taking down their horses. A group of pirates then charged in, surrounding them.

Several guards fought valiantly to protect the Marquis while retreating, but they were outnumbered and fell one by one in battle.

This guard had suffered multiple knife wounds to his chest and back and collapsed, losing consciousness. He only regained his senses at night, surrounded by the bodies of his comrades and the pirates, but the Marquis was nowhere to be found. Realizing the Marquis had likely been taken by the pirates, he struggled to rise and made his way to the Prince's residence to deliver the news.

However, his injuries were severe, and without encountering the guards from the Huaiyang residence, he likely would have died on the road.

Cui Fu was stunned, turning to Liu Mian Tang and saying, "We must quickly send a message to Xingzhou and have him come back to rescue him!"

Fan Hu, standing nearby, looked troubled and said, "The prince has gone out to sea. If we send a boat to search, with such a vast ocean, we don’t know when we will find him. By the time the prince returns, we might only be able to recover the Marquis' corpse..."

Cui Fu and Zhao Quan had grown up together, and upon hearing that Zhao Quan might be in danger, she immediately panicked and tears streamed down her face. "What... what will we say to the old marchioness if something happens to Zhao Quan?!"

Liu Mian Tang frowned and turned back into the house. After a short while, she emerged dressed in men’s clothing, her long hair neatly tied up in a male hairstyle and covered with a headscarf. At first glance, she looked just like any other man from the North Sea.

She strapped a short knife to her lower back and tucked two daggers into the wrappings around her legs. Then she said to Fan Hu, "You take several guards and ride back to the military camp immediately. Request elite cavalry to head to the hillside where the Marquis was attacked. I’ll go with Lu Zhong and the others to look for traces on the mountain. While the dew hasn’t fully soaked in, there may still be signs left behind. By following the blood trail, we should be able to determine their general direction."

Fan Hu was alarmed at the prospect of the princess consort personally putting herself in danger. "Your Highness, we can go; you absolutely must not venture out alone!"

Lu Quan, overhearing, chuckled, "With just you bunch of good-for-nothings, how could you possibly find those bandits’ tracks? Today, our big boss has taken charge, and that’ll make them know their place!"

If it were about kidnapping a target, the members of Yangshan would be seasoned experts in that regard, especially their leader.

However, Lu Yi felt that Fan Hu had a point and didn’t want the leader to go in person.

But Liu Mian Tang waved her hand and strode out. "What are you all hesitating for? If we don’t leave now, we’ll really be waiting to escort the Marquis back to Zhenzhou in a coffin!"

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