Departure

“I used the Soul Search technique.”

When Lu Yuesheng, looking exhausted, entered Lu Chang’an’s room, her first words plunged the atmosphere into silence.

The Soul Search technique was a notoriously ruthless method of extracting information in the martial world.

Those subjected to it not only endured excruciating pain during the process, but also faced a high probability of becoming an idiot afterward.

With a soft sigh, Lu Chang’an simply asked, “What were the results?”

“Not ideal.”

“She preferred to endure the pain and risk of the Soul Search rather than speak, but what I managed to extract was quite limited.”

“First, regarding the Zhang family’s collection of children you discovered earlier—those children were indeed sent to Liantian Manor.”

“However, even Madam Wang doesn’t know what happened to them after they arrived.”

“Second, about Xiu Niang and Yanyan.”

“Yanyan was personally requested by the First Manor Lord.”

“He had visited here before and took a liking to Yanyan at first sight.”

“But for some unknown reason, he didn’t act personally nor take Yanyan as a disciple into Liantian Manor.”

“Instead, he instructed Madam Wang to take Yanyan away in this manner.”

Strange, extremely strange.

That was Lu Chang’an’s first reaction.

Given Liantian Manor’s reputation, if they had openly announced taking Yanyan as a disciple, it would have been easy to bring her in.

But using the pretext of a marriage arrangement made things more difficult, especially leveraging the Zhang family’s marriage proposal.

Lu Chang’an felt there was an air of deliberate obfuscation here.

As if Liantian Manor didn’t want to be too closely associated with Yanyan.

“Not much useful information for us.”

“I’ll write down some notes for you and Liu Yang to look over later.”

Lu Yuesheng took out a jade slip from her bosom and handed it to Lu Chang’an.

“Take this.”

“A Spirit-Splitting Jade Slip?”

Lu Chang’an’s heart stirred as he guessed what it was.

“Yes, it’s a Spirit-Splitting Jade Slip that can maintain a state of perfect concentration for the duration of one incense stick.”

“Your journey is fraught with danger.”

“Take this with you; even if the Second Manor Lord detects something amiss, you can use it to hold him off and escape.”

Lu Chang’an didn’t stand on ceremony.

He accepted the jade slip and said to Lu Yuesheng with some solemnity, “Thank you.”

This jade slip must have been an important life-saving item for Lu Yuesheng, yet she gave it to him so readily.

“I should be the one saying that.”

“After all, you’re risking danger for me.”

Lu Yuesheng smiled gently, gave a slight bow, and prepared to take her leave.

“Wait.”

Lu Chang’an stopped her.

He hesitated for a moment, then asked, “Regarding the matter related to Feng Shisan, did Madam Wang’s memory have any useful information?”

Lu Yuesheng shook her head silently, pursed her lips, and said, “Madam Wang seems convinced that I was the one who did it.”

“Then there’s no other choice.”

“We’ll have to investigate.”

Another day passed.

Early the next morning, Lu Yuesheng applied makeup to Lu Chang’an and Liu Yang.

Lu Chang’an was disguised as Zhao Qi, while Liu Yang naturally became Madam Wang.

When Liu Yang’s makeup was finished, even though Lu Chang’an had mentally prepared himself, he was still startled.

Liu Yang, who had still had a hint of masculinity, transformed into the male version of Madam Wang after just half an incense stick of time under Lu Yuesheng’s disguise skills.

When Liu Yang changed into a loose-fitting long skirt, he looked as if he had been cast from the same mold as Madam Wang.

“Can I wait until we reach Liantian Manor before taking the voice-changing pill?”

Liu Yang’s expression was very unnatural.

Wearing women’s clothes felt extremely awkward no matter how he adjusted them.

If he took the voice-changing pill that Lu Yuesheng had prepared now, he would probably feel even more uncomfortable.

“That’s fine.”

“But if you run into someone on the road and need to speak, you’ll have to take it immediately.”

Lu Chang’an didn’t force Liu Yang to take the pill.

Asking a man to wear women’s clothes was already difficult enough; there was no need to push him to take the voice-changing pill right now.

Moreover, the voice-changing pill had a duration of about a week.

Taking it later meant it would expire later, so it didn’t matter.

“Remember, Madam Wang’s name is Wang Mengru.”

“The Second Manor Lord likes to call her Xiaoru, and Wang Mengru likes to call him Langjun.”

“Langjun?!”

Liu Yang’s voice turned a bit shrill.

His face contorted violently, looking as if he was about to vomit.

Lu Chang’an pictured Liu Yang in his normal state, shyly calling a scholar “Langjun,” and almost burst out laughing.

“Wang Mengru loves to wear an osmanthus-scented sachet.”

“I’ve prepared one—put it on, Liu Yang.”

“Also, she buys her rouge from the Banshan Town near Liantian Manor, preferring Chen Ji brand.”

After sharing some miscellaneous information, Lu Yuesheng handed Lu Chang’an a stack of letter paper of moderate thickness.

“These contain some internal rules of Liantian Manor.”

“Study them on the way to avoid revealing yourselves.”

“As for the coachman and the maid, just tell the Second Manor Lord that they went to handle some errands.”

After carefully going over everything to ensure nothing was missed, Lu Yuesheng looked tenderly at Lu Chang’an and said softly, “Come back safely.”

“I will.”

Outside the inn, a carriage identical to Madam Wang’s was ready, arranged by Lu Yuesheng.

Once everything was set, Lu Chang’an and Liu Yang boarded the carriage, and Lu Yuesheng watched them disappear into the distance.

Only when the carriage was completely out of sight did Lu Yuesheng return to her room.

She sat by the table, staring blankly into space.

“Is it worth it?”

An old woman’s voice suddenly rang out.

An elderly woman had appeared silently in the room.

“I’m clearing my name of injustice.”

“Why wouldn’t it be worth it?”

Lu Yuesheng was not surprised by the woman’s appearance.

She picked up a teacup, took a sip, and frowned slightly.

She had forgotten to ask Lu Chang’an to leave some tea leaves.

The tea at this inn was far too inferior.

“Since when did someone from the Yantian Sect care about being wronged?”

The old woman seemed disappointed, as if wishing iron could become steel.

She tapped her cane in frustration.

“You used one of the three aid opportunities just to seal off the city and do some cleanup work.”

“This will put you at a disadvantage in the contest for the Young Sect Leader position!”

Lu Yuesheng didn’t answer, only asking, “Were there any omissions yesterday?”

“You!”

Seeing Lu Yuesheng still so indifferent, the old woman’s face flushed with anger, as if she were about to scold her.

“Granny Hua, I don’t need you to teach me how to handle my affairs.”

Lu Yuesheng’s expression turned cold.

She looked at the old woman for the first time, and the chill in her eyes made the old woman flinch and involuntarily step back two paces.

“I respect you as my elder, so I won’t say more.”

“But this matter is my own concern.”

“I don’t need anyone else’s interference.”

The old woman was silent for a long time.

Finally, she said, “There were no omissions yesterday.”

“After all, we used the sect’s aid opportunity.”

“The city’s news is completely sealed, and the Zhang family’s actions are tightly suppressed.”

“Good.”

Lu Yuesheng relaxed.

She turned her head to look out the window, in the direction where Lu Chang’an had departed.

She hoped everything would go smoothly.