Chapter 275 Just passing by
"You should put some on too." Gu Cheng'an's voice was muffled, with a hint of subtle awkwardness. "It will save you from trouble... and it can also help you avoid Gu Chengyan's men."
When Gu Chengyan was mentioned, the smile on Chu Ruohan's face faded and became more solemn.
She nodded, and imitated Gu Cheng'an, smearing some mud on her face and hands.
The originally fair and delicate skin suddenly turned gray, and the whole person looked much more haggard.
Like an ordinary, weathered peasant woman.
The two looked at each other, and saw a bit of embarrassment in each other's eyes...
Gu Cheng'an pushed the cart again, but his movements were more deliberate with a hunch and a stagger.
Chu Ruohan also lowered her head and sat on the cart.
Before long, they encountered a large conscription team.
The soldiers were dressed in armor and in neat formations, completely different from the previous group of conscripts.
Gu Cheng'an and Chu Ruohan lowered their heads, trying to shrink themselves into two inconspicuous balls, leaning against the roadside to make way.
The sound of neat horse hooves passed by.
Gu Cheng'an subconsciously lowered his head, and caught a glimpse of a majestic black horse and a tall and familiar figure on the horse from the corner of his eye.
The figure was wearing silver armor and looked awe-inspiring.
It was just a quick glimpse, and he didn't see the man's face clearly.
Chu Ruohan also felt the overwhelming aura and lowered her head, not daring to move at all.
Both of them deliberately avoided his sight and didn't notice at all that the figure on the tall horse was someone they were very familiar with.
The army gradually moved away, leaving only a cloud of dust.
Only then did Gu Cheng'an stand up and let out a long sigh.
On the rest of the journey, thanks to their "middle-aged woman" outfit, they did not encounter any major troubles.
At night, they would sleep in a dilapidated temple. If they couldn’t find a dilapidated temple, they would have to sleep in the wilderness.
The food they ate was also the dry food and water prepared by the old woman for them.
After a few more days of trekking, the capital finally appeared before our eyes.
Looking at the familiar city wall, Chu Ruohan felt anxious.
Gu Cheng'an parked the cart in a secluded alley near the Chu family.
"I'll take you here." Gu Cheng'an's voice was a little hoarse.
Chu Ruohan looked at his gray face and the ill-fitting women's clothing, and for a moment she didn't know what to say.
"I'm still under arrest and can't show up." Gu Cheng'an lowered his eyes, hiding his complicated emotions. "Go back on your own and be careful."
Chu Ruohan nodded.
"Then you..." She paused and asked softly, "What are your plans?"
Gu Cheng'an looked up and looked towards the north, which was the direction of Pingzhou.
A certain light rekindled in his eyes, firm and resolute.
"There's no place for me in the capital anymore."
"I plan to go to Pingzhou."
"The northern border is unstable, and this is the time to use men. A true man should defend his country and die on the battlefield."
His voice was not loud, but it was resounding.
Chu Ruohan looked at the light in his eyes and finally just nodded slightly.
"Take care of yourself."
She respected his decision.
Gu Cheng'an looked at her deeply, as if he wanted to engrave her appearance in his heart.
Then, he turned around and, without the slightest hesitation, strode away in the opposite direction of the Chu family.
His back blended into the crowd and quickly disappeared in the hustle and bustle of the capital...
The courtyard was filled with a faint scent of sandalwood.
A servant who was sweeping the floor suddenly looked up, saw who was coming, and the broom in his hand fell to the bluestone slab with a clang.
He turned around and ran away as if he had seen a ghost.
Chu Ruohan was confused.
Soon, a petite figure rushed out.
"Sister!"
The voice was surprised and happy, with a crying tone.
Chu Yueshu threw herself into Chu Ruohan's arms with such force that she almost lost her balance.
"Sister, it's really you!"
The warm tears quickly soaked the dirty cloth on Chu Ruohan's chest.
"You're not dead... wuwu..."
Following closely behind, Yuling also hurried over. When she saw the two people hugging each other tightly, her legs went weak and she fell to the ground with a thud.
"Young Madam..." Yuling's voice was choked with sobs.
Everybody came out.
When Mother Chu's eyes met Chu Ruohan, she froze.
"Han'er..."
The call was light and fluttering, as if afraid of disturbing the phantom before the eyes.
Chu Ruohan raised her head and looked at her mother.
My heart suddenly sank.
It's only been a few days since we last met, and yet you've aged so much, with a few strands of gray hair on your temples.
Chu's father followed closely behind. When he saw his daughter, the shock in his eyes was quickly replaced by a deep, suppressed excitement.
He walked forward and patted Chu Ruohan on the shoulder, his voice trembling slightly.
"I'm glad you're back."
Four simple words, yet they carry a weight of a thousand pounds.
After a brief moment of joy at the reunion, doubts began to creep in. Father Chu frowned, looked at his daughter, and asked the question that puzzled everyone.
"What happened to that body?"
Chu Ruohan hugged her sister, her face full of confusion.
"What body?"
Chu Ruohan and Gu Chengan hid in Niutou Village and had no idea what was happening in the capital!
Mother Chu covered her chest with her hands, a trace of fear flashed in her eyes, and her voice trembled.
"Prince...Gu Junze brought back a corpse..."
"I'm wearing your clothes and look exactly like you..."
"We all thought that was you!"
Even when it is mentioned afterwards, it still makes people feel uneasy.
Doctor Qian sighed, "I never thought there was such a technique of disguise in this world."
He shook his head, still unable to comprehend. "The prince and I have examined the face repeatedly, and there is no trace of a human skin mask or anything like that." Chu Ruohan felt a chill run from the soles of her feet to the top of her head.
It seemed like Gu Chengyan had prepared this long ago, just to make everyone think she was dead. That identical corpse... where did he find it? And how did he do it?
It’s terrifying when you think about it.
Fortunately... Fortunately, Gu Cheng'an rescued her one step ahead.
Her eyes swept over everyone present: her parents, sister, Yuling, Doctor Qian... but the only person she didn't see was the one she wanted to see the most and who should be there.
"Where's Junze?"
She couldn't help but ask, her voice filled with an urgency she wasn't even aware of.
"Have you returned to the Marquis' Mansion?"
The courtyard suddenly became quiet.
Everyone looked at each other with different expressions, and seemed to be hesitant to speak.
Finally, Doctor Qian sighed, took a step forward and spoke in a low voice.
"Young Madam, you just came back, you shouldn't say this."
"It's just that the war in the north is tense, and the military situation in Pingzhou is urgent..."
"The Crown Prince...he led his troops to Pingzhou yesterday to provide assistance."
Pingzhou!
Chu Ruohan remembered the team she met on the way back.
Immediately, that tall and familiar figure in silver armor appeared...
It turned out to be him.
It turned out that when she and Gu Cheng'an were dressed as peasant women and lowered their heads to avoid the enemy, the man she had been thinking about day and night rode past her on horseback.
So close yet so far away, passing by each other.
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