Green Mountain-Chapter 598 - 455: Hair Up in a Bun

Husband and wife?

As soon as these words were spoken, Chen Ji and Zhang Xia simultaneously turned their heads to look at Xiao Man.

Xiao Man, scared, retreated behind the little monk, stammering, "Why are you all looking at me? You two are the most suitable age to pretend to be a married couple, who else can play the part?"

Third Master Hu silently observed Chen Ji and Zhang Xia, but both were people with hidden depths, and nothing could be discerned from their faces. Throughout, Chen Ji and Zhang Xia never made eye contact.

Zhang Xia calmly said, "Xiao Man, you and the little monk can act."

Xiao Man quickly said, "You also said he’s a monk, right? I can’t pretend to be married to a monk. Buddha would blame him... and would blame me."

The little monk, pulled to the front by her, had no way to escape, and could only face Chen Ji and Zhang Xia: "Amitabha Buddha, this little monk practices celibacy. If I break my vows, all the scriptures I recited earlier would be in vain."

The little monk could only play the brother or son, whereas Ah Sheng was still too young at thirteen or fourteen, and Hong Zuer and Zhang Baishi, at forty, were too old.

Only Chen Ji could pretend to be this young husband.

At this time, Hong Zuer sneered: "So much dilly-dallying, if you can’t even handle this small matter smoothly, you will definitely be caught by the city guards when you go to Baidadan City. It’s better not to go. Decide quickly, don’t hesitate."

Xiao Man clenched the back of the little monk’s clothes, peeking half her face to watch Chen Ji’s expression.

The next moment Zhang Xia casually said, "Then it’s settled, it’s just fake anyway, the important task comes first."

Hong Zuer nodded: "Since it is settled, you must become familiar with each other’s manner of address early, and must not slip in this regard. From today onwards, you will interact in your pretended relationship, you must not act awkward by the time you reach Baidadan City."

Speaking, he looked up at Xiao Man and the little monk: "You two should address each other as siblings."

Then he looked at Chen Ji and Zhang Xia: "You two must address each other as husband and wife."

As soon as these words were spoken, Xiao Man became spirited, she clenched the back of the little monk’s clothes again: "We’ll definitely be okay playing siblings, my brother has always been obedient since he was young, if he’s not, I’ll beat him... they’re the ones to watch."

Everyone looked at Zhang Xia and Chen Ji, Xiao Man and the little monk focused intently.

Zhang Xia and Chen Ji were silent, until finally Zhang Xia smiled openly, looking at Chen Ji: "What’s your childhood name?"

Chen Ji replied: "Qing Gui."

Zhang Xia nodded: "Then I will call you Qing Gui in daily life. My mother usually calls my father by his childhood name or courtesy name. My name is Zhang Xia, you can call me Axia, my father calls my mother the same way."

Xiao Man was greatly disappointed, muttering in a low voice, "Boring."

However, at this moment, Hong Zuer said leisurely: "No need for the two of you to pretend not to know each other anymore. Although I, Hong Zuer, haven’t been to the Capital City in years, I’ve heard from merchants that Mr. Wang’s direct disciple is named Chen Ji, and Mr. Wang even returned to the capital against orders for him. Recently, quite a stir was caused in the Imperial Capital because of it."

Hong Zuer, watching the flickering fire, continued: "I also heard from the border people that this young man named Chen Ji became notorious for slaughtering in Guyuan, killing the Great Commander of the Heavenly Strategy Army, Yuan Zhen, spear in hand as if the place were uninhabited. When Dragon Gate Inn collected corpses, enemy leaders were scattered, blood had seeped several feet into the soil, unable to be cleansed."

Chen Ji: "..."

No wonder Hong Zuer was assured he would go to Baidadan City with them, he had already discovered his identity.

Yuan Cheng was originally captured by Wang Daosheng, but Hong Zuer probably never imagined that Wang Daosheng’s disciple would want to return Yuan Cheng to Jing Dynasty.

Hong Zuer continued: "As for Second Miss Zhang, I’ve also heard of the alias Yan Zhihu, and some noble sons from the Imperial Capital have mentioned the elegance of Yan Zhihu back in the Imperial Academy. As for the stories of you two, I have also heard a bit."

Zhang Xia smiled brightly: "I’ve long heard that Chongli Pass’s Night Patrol Hong Zuer, Mr. Hong, has keen eyesight and acute hearing. Your reputation is well-deserved."

Hong Zuer smiled politely: "I just enjoy listening to stories from merchants traveling north and south. This time we’re going to Baidadan City, we all need to look out for each other a bit more, so I think it’s better to clear the air."

Chen Ji uttered a sound of acknowledgment.

Hong Zuer, after addressing others, finally looked at Ah Sheng, who was visibly refreshed.

But Hong Zuer pondered for a moment: "Ah Sheng, you will pretend to be Uncle Baisi’s son, I will play the widower."

Ah Sheng froze on the spot: "But I..."

Hong Zuer frowned: "Do as I say, what do you mean ’but’? I’ve never been married, naturally it’s more appropriate for Uncle Baisi to pretend to be your father."

Ah Sheng lowered his head, nudging the felt on the floor of the Vermilion Bird Tent with the tip of his foot: "Understood."

Hong Zuer stopped looking at Ah Sheng, carefully instructing: "Starting today, you all need to familiarize yourselves with the life customs of Liaoyang Prefecture, every street, every alley, the well-known snacks in Liaoyang Prefecture, the food around the address on your travel permits, you must be able to answer."

Zhang Xia looked at Hong Zuer: "Where will these messages come from?"

Hong Zuer hesitated, as Liaoyang Prefecture is the capital city of Jing Dynasty, and Night Patrol couldn’t possibly have scouted the enemy there.

Third Master Hu, warming his hands by the fire, said: "I’ll take care of that. Before departure, I’ll give you a detailed account, including the customs along the way from Liaoyang Prefecture to Baidadan City. Nothing will be missing. But the problem is that before the caravan reaches Baidadan City, you must memorize everything."

Hong Zuer stood up: "Then wait for Third Master to bring the dossier of Liaoyang Prefecture, each of us memorizes what each needs to prepare, there must be no mistakes."

Third Master Hu thought for a moment: "Just give me one night, we will depart at hour of the hare (5 to 7 AM) tomorrow."

Hong Zuer walked outward: "Let’s go, follow me into Chongli Pass, there are still many things to prepare."

Chen Ji and Zhang Xia exchanged a glance, and followed closely behind.

Xiao Man trailed far behind, heaving a long sigh of relief: "The young master just now had a murderous aura, did you see his eyes? Does he want to kill me?"

The little monk widened his eyes: "You’re scared but still dare to do this?"

Xiao Man glared at him: "What do you know. I can’t stand the young master squandering his good times on saving people, the Commandery Princess is trapped in the palace, how can she be rescued. Besides, who knows what the Commandery Princess will become after being inside for so long? Anyway, I’ve never seen that Commandery Princess, I don’t know what’s so good about her."

The little monk sincerely said: "The Commandery Princess is a good person."

Xiao Man rolled her eyes: "Even if she’s a good person, she’s definitely not as good as my Second Sister, I only recognize her."

The little monk clasped his hands together: "Amitabha Buddha, it’s not the wind moving, not the banner moving, but the kind-hearted person’s heart that moves. The one trapped in the palace isn’t the Commandery Princess, it’s Chen Ji benefactor himself."

Xiao Man pinched the soft flesh at his waist: "Speak human language."

This time, however, the little monk didn’t explain, only grimacing in pain.

...

...

Upon exiting the Vermilion Bird Tent, with Hong Zuer leading the way, the gate guards at the South Gate silently let them pass, unobstructed.

As he walked towards the residence, he said to Chen Ji and Zhang Xia: "The city guard of Baidadan City is as sharp as a fox, you have many flaws now, you need to make further preparations."

Chen Ji looked down at his attire, puzzled: "What flaws?"

Hong Zuer casually said, "You will know in a moment."

When they arrived at the house next to the blacksmith shop in the north of the city, Hong Zuer instructed Ah Sheng, "Bring a string of coins and go invite your Aunt Wang over."

Ah Sheng seemed to guess what Hong Zuer intended to do and thought for a moment before replying, "Aunt Wang won’t do. I heard yesterday that her father passed away a few days ago. To find a ’perfect luck person,’ we need to call Aunt Li over."

Hong Zuer waved his hand, "Go."

Ah Sheng turned and left the door.

Chen Ji was intrigued.

A ’perfect luck person’? What is a ’perfect luck person’?

Chen Ji was perplexed, but he saw Zhang Xia touch his cheek subconsciously upon hearing the term ’perfect luck person.’ "I see, indeed a flaw," he said.

Chen Ji was even more puzzled. This seemed to be a long-standing custom of the Ning Dynasty, but he dared not ask more.

Zhang Xia glanced at him and said in a low voice, "A ’perfect luck person’ is a senior woman whose parents, husband, and children are all present, living in a happy family."

In less than thirty minutes, Aunt Li arrived with a wooden box. She lifted the dark red skirt with a smile as she stepped over the threshold, "Mr. Hong, I haven’t heard that Ah Sheng got married, so how could your family need me?"

Hong Zuer sat by the stone table and poured himself a cup of tea, "It has nothing to do with Ah Sheng. Don’t ask too much inside the door and don’t talk recklessly outside."

Aunt Li immediately became serious, "I understand."

Her gaze shifted between Zhang Xia and Xiao Man, finally resting on Zhang Xia’s face, "Is it this one?"

Zhang Xia nodded.

Hong Zuer suddenly looked at her, "Miss, have you thought it through?"

Zhang Xia smiled calmly, "Mr. Hong, don’t worry. The matter is of utmost importance."

Aunt Li said to her, "Miss, find a place to sit. This is a delicate task, and it might take a while. Let me take my time."

Zhang Xia sat down on a stone bench in the courtyard and silently watched Aunt Li open the box.

The box had three small inlaid drawers. In the first drawer were several bundles of cotton thread. Aunt Li bit through one and crossed the threads.

She bit onto one end with her teeth while pulling the other two ends with her hands, turning the thread into a small cotton scissors.

Rolling the thread over Zhang Xia’s face, Aunt Li gently rolled it, the twisting thread catching and plucking each fine hair off Zhang Xia’s face, leaving her skin smooth and bright.

Chen Ji was astonished.

Facial threading?

He finally realized what flaw Hong Zuer mentioned: before a young girl becomes a married woman, she must undergo facial threading. Zhang Xia had not had it done, and it would be an obvious flaw at Baidadan City once observed.

However, after the facial threading, her appearance differed greatly from a young girl. Women only thread their faces on the day before or the day of their marriage, marking one of the most important times of their lives.

Chen Ji spoke up, "Wait!"

Zhang Xia looked at him and earnestly repeated, "The matter is of utmost importance."

Chen Ji fell silent.

Zhang Xia closed her eyes and said nothing more. Aunt Li finished plucking the fine hairs from her cheeks and moved on to her temples and forehead, giving Zhang Xia’s face a suddenly more mature appearance.

Aunt Li discarded the thread, removed the hairpin from Zhang Xia’s hair, letting her dark hair cascade like a waterfall down her back.

Aunt Li’s fingers ran through the glossy and thick strands, smiling and praising, "Even in my youth, I didn’t have such lovely hair, but you shouldn’t tie it up like this in the future."

In a blink, Aunt Li styled Zhang Xia’s hair into a simple round bun.

Zhang Xia’s previous hairstyle was tied atop her head, giving off a heroic aura, like a knight from the Jianghu.

Now her hair was bunned at the back with a silver hairpin, a strand hanging down to her waist.

Xiao Man was captivated, "Sister Axia looks more gentle now."

Aunt Li took a palm-sized bronze mirror from the third drawer and handed it to Zhang Xia, "See for yourself."

Zhang Xia held the mirror and looked at her reflection from different angles, "Aunt Li, you are truly skilled."

Aunt Li circled around Zhang Xia appraisingly, "The young lady is indeed pretty, but... I feel like something is missing."

Xiao Man’s eyes darted, "Sister Axia doesn’t like jewelry, but since she’s pretending to be a married woman, she should wear some. Even women from the countryside wear a bracelet when going out. If not gold, then silver; if not silver, even a wooden one will do."

Aunt Li suddenly realized, "Indeed, the young lady’s attire is too plain, she doesn’t even have a sachet or wallet."

At this point, Xiao Man took out a jade bracelet from his sleeve and handed it to Chen Ji, "Young master, put this on Sister Axia."

Chen Ji was taken aback.

The jade bracelet was like mutton-fat, carrying an amber sheen like floating clouds.

He looked at Zhang Xia, then at Aunt Li.

Aunt Li suddenly turned to the kitchen, "Mr. Hong, where do you keep your cups? I could use a drink of water."

Chen Ji stood still.

Hong Zuer sneered, "Look how straightforward the young lady is, while you are being so hesitant."

Zhang Xia suddenly raised her head, smiling as she said, "It’s just pretend, you didn’t take it seriously, did you?"

Chen Ji laughed self-deprecatingly, "Indeed, I was being overly cautious."

After saying that, he picked up Zhang Xia’s wrist and slid the jade bracelet over her slender hand.

The sound of iron being forged clanged from the neighboring area.

In the serene courtyard, Zhang Xia sat motionless on the stone bench, watching Chen Ji put the bracelet on her, her eyelashes slightly trembling.

Zhang Xia turned to Xiao Man, asking skeptically, "Is this bracelet yours? It’s made from Hetian mutton-fat jade."

Xiao Man grinned, "It’s fake, fake, as long as Sister Axia looks good wearing it. See, the bracelet fits just right, it would look off on anyone else. We’ve already done the facial threading and hair styling, which completes everything needed for marriage. How about we also stage a couple of ceremonies like bowing to heaven and earth... Ahem, the little monk and I will go out for a stroll."

Under Chen Ji’s gaze, Xiao Man grabbed the little monk and fled in haste.