Crossing the Mountains

Chapter 96 Dual Identity
Tan Huaike came out from behind the screen and startled Shentu Zhuo and Zhou Wencong.

She was dressed in the attire of a Mohe noble. Her skirt was veiled in twelve layers of veil, and her cuffs were densely embroidered with lotus patterns. The silk thread was laced with powdered Khotan white jade, giving off a moon-like luster as she moved. Two pendants hung from her waist: one was a Mohe jade carved with the image of the deity Monro, the other a dragon and fish pendant given as part of the Daxuan betrothal gift.

The most important thing was that her facial features didn't seem to have changed in any way, but it was like she had a completely different face, completely unrecognizable. If you hadn't seen it with your own eyes, it would be hard to believe that she was the same person as the previous Tan Huaike.

Shentu Zhuo and Zhou Wencong had never seen Princess Mohe's true appearance, and were confused for a moment.

Fu Feng said confidently, "I saw her in the palace a few years ago. I imagine her current appearance is a result of a disguise. I wouldn't say it's exactly the same, but it's very similar. Furthermore, Caizhu'er is a Mohe, and her features bear some resemblance to Princess Alan. If you're not close and acquainted with her, you probably wouldn't be able to tell the difference."

Zhou Wencong finally remembered that he had seen the portrait before. Recalling the past, he said, "Well, judging from her appearance alone, she bears a 70% resemblance to the portrait. Add to that the makeup and clothing of the Mohe nobles, and the pomp and circumstance of the marriage procession, and it's certainly impressive."

After seeing Fu Feng's ability, Shen Tu Zhuo had to admit his admiration. He said awkwardly, "It's okay. I don't know if she looks like the princess who married into the foreign country, but at least she can't be seen as my sister-in-law. As long as others don't associate them with each other, her original identity can be protected, and it will be easier for her to escape later."

Tan Huaike had seen Alan in person and they got along very well. Looking in the bronze mirror, he felt that they bore some resemblance to each other. However, he had tampered with his own face after all, and upon closer inspection, he could see that there were still many flaws in her expression and manners.

But it didn't matter. With the Third Prince, the Mohe envoy, and the Empress Dowager covering for her, nothing could go wrong. The others on the Daxuan side had no idea what the real Princess Mohe was like. Even if those opponents wanted to question her, they couldn't produce any hard evidence unless they admitted to having killed the princess.

But she still felt a little uneasy. She touched the golden crown on her head and said, "Do we really have to dress up to enter the city? I've never seen Princess Alan dressed so gorgeously and solemnly."

Zhou Wencong said, "Of course, the real princess can wait until Andu to stun everyone, but you can't wait until then. If you want to scare and intimidate those behind the scenes, this is the best time."

Fu Feng gloated a bit, "This isn't even a full set of attire. To make it easier for me to disguise myself, the maids the caravan brought just now only gave you a rough change of clothes. You still have two boxes of jewellery left to put on. Okay, let the maids take care of the rest for you. Once you're all dressed, it's time to head back to the city."

"..."Tan Huaike was heartbroken. Being a princess is too tiring, right?

"Well," Shen Tu Zhuo hesitantly praised, "it's still very beautiful."

"Thank you for your hard work, madam. For the sake of my lifelong event, please be patient." Zhou Wencong said politely.

"Your Highness, there's no need to be so sentimental. My sister-in-law isn't just showing off to you." Shentu Zhuo rolled his eyes.
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On the way back, Tan Huaike sat in the luxurious and exquisitely modified carriage, and felt that everything was so unreal.

As expected, falsehood can't be made real. No matter how superficially similar she pretended to be, no matter how much support and cover she had, it wasn't enough to soothe her inner uneasiness. Fortunately, she was only pretending temporarily. Once she had achieved her goal, she could shed these layers of falsehood. The princess who married into a foreign alliance, the concubine of the Tan family, the eldest lady of the Shentu family... One day, she would be able to be herself again.

Just as he was daydreaming, the copper bell beside the carriage window rang.

Tan Huaike lifted the curtain and asked, "What's wrong?"

Shentu Zhuo rode alongside him. "I've been so busy these past few days that I forgot something. Do you remember the masked man who saved you and the Third Prince that day? He was the one who brought you to the Juyan Oasis. Have you seen him since then?"

Tan Huaike shook his head. "That man was very strange. He never spoke a word from beginning to end. The Third Prince and I fell asleep in the carriage. When we woke up, we found ourselves at Madam Pu's house. We haven't seen him since. But Madam Pu said that the man was not mute. He gave her and her husband instructions on how to take care of the Third Prince and me, and even left a lot of money as a reward." "Well, with such dedication to helping you, it seems he really has nothing to do with the assassins," Shentu Zhuo analyzed. "He brought you to the Juyan Oasis because he thought it was more secluded and safe, the same reason the Wuxu caravan stationed here... Or maybe he's a member of this caravan?"

"Everyone in the caravan is now in the marriage procession. Do you see anyone who looks like that masked man?"

"There are two guards who look a bit similar, but they shouldn't be him."

"I also asked Fufeng, and he said he didn't know any masked guests." Tan Huaike tapped the window frame with his fingertips and whispered, "But I don't think he's telling the truth."

"If Fufeng is hiding something, it means the masked man's identity is very special and cannot be revealed to the public." Shen Tuzhuo frowned and thought, "Who do you think he is?"

"Wearing a mask and refusing to speak... Could it be someone we know?"

"You know him? I know him? Or does His Highness the Third Prince know him?"

"I don't know about that..." Tan Huaike thought for a moment and said, "There's another strange thing. When you came to pick up the Third Prince and me, the masked man didn't want me to get on the carriage at first. He seemed to want to take the Third Prince away alone. But after you arrived, the assassins came after us again, so he took me with him. I wonder why?"

"Perhaps his mission is just to protect the Third Prince, and he thinks you're in the way?"

"I actually helped him! I was the one who drove the carriage from the alley. How could I be in the way?" Tan Huaike was furious. "The assassins haven't even left yet. They stole the carriage and left me there. What a ruthless act!"

"Don't be angry, it's just a guess." Shen Tu Zhuo was originally teasing her, but suddenly thought of something and said, "Wait, is he trying to protect you?"

"protect me?"

"He knew the assassins were targeting the Third Prince, so all he had to do was get him out of danger. You were an innocent person implicated. At the time, the people were all fleeing, and if you blended in with them, the assassins wouldn't notice you. He pushed you away because he didn't want you to continue to put yourself in danger."

"Then why did you bring me along again?"

"Because the assassin came after us and saw you assisting the Third Prince, he naturally wouldn't let you go. He saw that we were short-handed and could only barely cope, and he was afraid that you would get hurt, so he simply took you with him."

"Okay, that makes sense."

"If that's really the case..." Shen Tu Zhuo was puzzled. "Why do I feel that person cares more about your safety than the Third Prince?"
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　Next chapter: She? How could she be a princess?

　　(End of this chapter)