Crossing the Mountains

Chapter 98: Stunning Beauty in Four Counties
Despite this, Tan Anfu, with an attitude of discernment and appreciation, still carefully examined the princess's figure and features. The wind lifted a corner of her veil, briefly revealing her brilliant profile. Her heart skipped a beat; there was indeed an inexplicable sense of familiarity.

But when I looked at them again, I felt that they were not that similar. It was obvious that they were two different people.

Tan Anfu found an excuse for herself: "The brow bones and eye sockets of the Mohe people all look like that. I've seen it many times on the Yunhe Xiangjie. Tan Huaike's clothes are of a poor and remote family. Even if she puts on those clothes, she can't dress up as a princess."

By now the stones under the ruts had been removed and the road ahead had been cleared, but the princess still hadn't returned to the carriage. She lowered her head, rubbed her right forehead, and said a few words to her maid.

The maid conveyed the message to Shentu Zhuo, who hurried to find Fufeng.

The Third Prince, who was walking ahead, also noticed something was wrong. He turned his horse and came to the princess. He pulled the reins, dismounted, and asked with concern, "What's wrong? Are you hurt?"

Tan Huaike replied generously: "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I didn't sit still just now and knocked my head."

Zhou Wencong looked at her forehead and saw a red swelling there. He also saw that she was shivering from the cold because of her thin clothes, so he took off his cloak and put it on her. "It's warm in the carriage, but it's very cold outside. Don't catch a cold."

Tan Huaike looked up and gave him a grateful smile: "Thank you, Your Highness."

Shen Tu Zhuo, who had called Fu Feng over, watched this scene and wanted to pull off the cloak and throw it back at Zhou Wencong's head. He was so impatient that his teeth were almost broken, and he complained quietly in a place where no one else could see: "That's enough, is there any need to be so sentimental!"

Zhou Wencong ignored him and took the ointment from Fu Feng, as if he wanted to apply it to the princess's forehead himself.

Shen Tu Zhuo tried to snatch the ointment from Zhou Wencong's hand, and said with a fake smile, "It's freezing cold, so let Her Highness return to the carriage and slowly apply the ointment. It's not very appropriate here with so many people around."

While the two were pulling each other, Xu Guanbai came up.

She calmly stretched out her hand: "Give it to me, I'll apply medicine to Her Royal Highness the Princess."

The four of them exchanged glances.

Shentu Zhuo: Have you been released from house arrest?

Xu Guanbai: Of course, it wasn’t me who leaked the information.

Tan Huaike: I'll get back to the car now? Third Prince, do you need me to return the cloak?

Zhou Wencong: Forget it, just wear it and perform the whole act. Zhongqi, how about you lend me your cloak?
Shentu Zhuo: ...Can I refuse?

Finally, Tan Huaike and Xu Guanbai boarded the carriage, and Shentu Zhuo reluctantly took off his cloak and gave it to Zhou Wencong. After confirming that the princess was safe and that the onlookers had truly seen her true appearance, the group set out again, heading for the prefectural governor's mansion.

When getting in the car, Tan Huaike felt the gaze of Tan Anfu.

She looked back calmly, her eyes passing by silently.
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Xu Guanbai sat beside Tan Huaike, brushing aside her hair with his fingertips. "How come you're really bumped and red? It's all swollen."

Tan Huaike said, "They said there would be a bumpy ride, but they didn't say when. I waited stiffly for a long time but nothing happened, so I thought about drinking some tea to quench my thirst. But when I stood up, there was a bump, and I lost my footing, so I hit the roof."

Xu Guanbai pinched some ointment and applied it carefully to her: "Since it was arranged in advance, you should have told me before throwing the stone."

Tan Huaike smiled and said, "Maybe he's afraid of being discovered, so he doesn't dare to be too conspicuous. My uncle said he coughed to remind me, but it was too noisy outside and I really didn't hear it clearly." He dressed up specially to attract everyone's attention at this time.

The people of the four counties in Hexi should know that Princess Mohe has arrived. Those who want to obstruct the marriage should know that their wishful thinking has failed again. The faction in the court that supports the marriage also needs to boost confidence in order to maintain the alliance between the two countries.

Therefore, Tan Huaike's appearance this time, from the stone that caused the bumps, to the ointment for treating the bumps, the cloak taken off by the third prince, and even the gust of wind that lifted the veil at the right time, were all carefully planned scenes.

He hadn't intended for Tan Huaike to actually hit his forehead, but it had, by accident, caused Shen Tu Zhuo to panic slightly, leading to a minor disagreement with the Third Prince over how to apply the ointment. Shen Tu Zhuo felt Zhou Wencong was getting too caught up in the role; he hadn't originally agreed to apply the ointment himself, so why had he improvised? Zhou Wencong felt he was getting in the way, undermining his image as a devoted and responsible husband.

The only surprise was Xu Guanbai's appearance. They thought she had not yet been released from confinement, so they did not arrange any role for her.

Tan Huaike said, "Thank you for helping Guan Bai Niangzi out. With the help of the Empress Dowager, this scene is made more realistic." She didn't hide anything and asked her directly, "Have you investigated the matter of the warm room incense?"

"Speaking of this, I have to thank you as well." After applying the ointment, Xu Guanbai combed her hair and said, "Chi Jun Shou told me that when Master Zhuo sent a letter into the city, it was you who raised questions about the replacement of the incense. Then, they found evidence in my tea and the remaining incense ash, clearing me of suspicion."

"I heard that it was done by your maid? Who instructed her to do so?"

"The maid's name is Lianqiu. She has been detained. She claims her parents and younger brother are being held hostage in Andu. She received a message from the person on the day I received the order from the Empress Dowager, saying someone would contact her along the way and tell her what to do. For the safety of her family, she dared not disobey. Even under torture, she was unable to reveal the identity of the person."

"She's a pitiful person, she probably really doesn't know." Tan Huaike said, "The other party is just using her, I don't think they will reveal their identity easily."

"I thought so too, so I pleaded with the Chi County Magistrate to spare her life for now while we conduct a detailed investigation. This inquiry actually yielded some clues."

"What clue?"

"Lianqiu said that everyone she contacted wore a mask. They gave her a wooden hairpin stained with her mother's blood as a token of trust. The silk wrapped around the hairpin was a finely textured Jiangnan brocade, very rare even in Andu City. I think we could start our investigation from this aspect."

"That's great, I finally have an idea." Tan Huaike was sincerely happy.

"It seems you've figured out what to do. Seeing you dressed like this today, I'm very surprised and envious."

"Envy? What's there to envy..." Tan Huaike blurted out, then suddenly realized that he had spoken out of turn. He almost forgot that seeing that White Snake was deeply in love with the Third Prince, even though he was pretending, he was still her rival in love.

"Yes." Xu Guanbai looked at her and said meaningfully, "I envy you. I envy your fearlessness and honesty, and I also envy your clear conscience..."

As he spoke, the carriage slowly stopped.

They arrived safely at the county magistrate's office.

Night had fallen at this time. When Tan Huaike got off the car, he saw a man running anxiously in front of the county magistrate's mansion, but he was held tightly by the ferocious Zhenxi Army.

Ling Chuan drew his sword and asked, "Who is coming?"
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　Next chapter: No matter what, you are just thinking about him.

　　(End of this chapter)