Chapter 6

Chapter 6

I brought two people back with me.

One was Doctor Su, a well-known physician from the marketplace, and the other was Chen Xiao, disguised as Doctor Su’s apprentice.

“Prison Officer, I have brought the doctor.”

Chen Xiao was dressed in coarse hemp clothes, wrapped up tightly with a cloth covering his face, leaving only his eyes visible.

This deceptive bait-and-switch was unknown to anyone except Huang Prison Officer and the few of us involved.

Under the pretext of treating Yuan Mu, Huang Prison Officer ordered everyone else to leave.

Immediately after, he stepped forward and pulled down the cloth covering Chen Xiao’s face.

“He really does look like him.”

The striking resemblance passed his inspection.

“Go quickly, there’s only fifteen minutes left.”

I led Chen Xiao to a clean cell and had him change into the robes, cap, and shoes sent by Clerk Zhou.

Then, I quietly picked up the clothes Chen Xiao had discarded and brought them to Yuan Mu’s cell.

When Huang Prison Officer saw me approaching, he asked, “What is it?”

I gestured toward Yuan Mu’s corpse with a look.

“We need to get him into these clothes, then secretly move the body out.”

He snapped out of it. “Yes, yes, of course.”

On the other side, Chen Xiao had finished changing and was calling for me to come over.

I told him to stay inside for now.

Then, I hurried Guo Jailer and Doctor Su along, having them support the now-dressed Yuan Mu. They covered most of the corpse’s face and prepared to carry it out.

Huang Prison Officer, feeling uneasy, chased after us. “Where are you taking him?”

I urged him, “There’s no time! Just put him anywhere for now. Let them go, quickly!”

Chen Xiao was also rushing us from his side.

“I’m dressed! Come and see! Where is everyone?”

The situation had turned into a complete mess.

Huang Prison Officer was caught in a dilemma, looking at Yuan Mu one moment and glancing toward Chen Xiao the next, unable to move his feet or let go of the situation.

“Can… can we really just leave this body anywhere?”

He covered his face with both hands, rubbing them vigorously, as frantic as an ant on a hot griddle.

I couldn’t let him think any longer.

“Sir, calm down. Listen!”

Once it grew quiet, a faint sound could be heard. The sound of rhythmic, orderly footsteps was echoing along the walls.

“It’s the Elder Princess’s procession. They’ve already entered the Prison Ministry!”

Guo Jailer and Doctor Su froze in place while supporting Yuan Mu’s body, not daring to take another step.

“If we go up now, we’ll run right into them!”

Doctor Su stumbled back two steps.

Guo Jailer turned to look at Huang Prison Officer.

“Look at you, hesitating! Now everything is ruined! If we had just told the truth, it would have only meant a couple days of interrogation. But if she catches us now, there won’t even be a trial-it’ll be execution for our entire families!”

Huang Prison Officer panicked as well. Unable to think any further, he hurriedly led the way toward the back.

“The back connects to the sewage trench. It’s being cleared out these few days, and a hole happens to be dug there.”

“Quick, quick, quick!”

The three of them scrambled to move the corpse.

I straightened Chen Xiao’s robes for him.

“The Elder Princess’s given name is Qiong. Her title is Anding, and her fief is in Liangzhou. She is of a steady temperament and dislikes frivolity.”

Chen Xiao looked down at me, his tone flippant. “Then how should I address her? Anding? A-Ning?”

My voice turned cold. “Address her as Your Highness.”

“So formal?” Chen Xiao looked into the distance. “This Elder Princess… is she beautiful? I-”

I raised my hand and slapped him across the face.

His head snapped to the side. He clutched his cheek, staring at me in stunned silence.

“That’s to clear your head.”

I stepped back a distance, looking him up and down to adjust his posture.

“Stand straight. Do not slouch.”

“A gentleman is always at ease. Do not look at people from a low angle, and certainly do not look at them with your chin raised.”

“Relax your brow. He was a very gentle person, but one who did not show joy or anger on his face…”

After I corrected several points, Chen Xiao finally took on the air of a gentleman.

He looked up slightly, meeting my eyes.

“Miss Chao, do I look enough like him now?”

They looked so much alike to begin with that with a little grooming, even I could hardly tell them apart.

I looked away.

“He called me Chao Ruyu.”

Chen Xiao shrugged nonchalantly, crossing his arms.

“So, what’s our relationship? If I’m going to keep you by my side, I need a story.”

I pointed at his arms.

“Don’t do that.”

Chen Xiao lowered them helplessly.

“You don’t need to explain anything to Her Highness. As long as I am with you, she knew me from before; she won’t ask questions.”

The commotion outside grew louder. The Elder Princess’s procession was about to arrive.

Huang Prison Officer returned after seeing the other two off.

All three of us looked in the same direction, our chests heaving slightly, hearts in our throats.

After what felt like an eternity, a loud voice rang out.

“Grand Princess Anding has arrived!”

Huang Prison Officer ran to the entrance and knelt respectfully.

Standing before me, Chen Xiao’s hands hung at his sides, his fingers trembling uncontrollably.

“Don’t be afraid.”

Due to his nerves, he kept swallowing hard.

Suddenly, Chen Xiao thought of something. He turned back to look at me, his voice shaking.

“I forgot to ask you just now… did I actually kill someone?”