Chapter 606: I’ll Take Them All
Chapter 606: Chapter 606: I’ll Take Them All
After an incense stick had burned, Shen Ningning came out of the room.
She happened to see Mo Lingwei walking in from the courtyard entrance, and the young woman couldn’t help but ask, "What were you up to just now?"
Mo Lingwei hadn’t wanted to tell her, afraid it would frighten Shen Ningning.
But they were to become husband and wife; he couldn’t hide everything from her.
So, he confessed, "Just now, I had the Hidden Guards kill all those servants and bury them behind the mountain."
Shen Ningning froze.
Mo Lingwei hurriedly explained, "It’s not that I’m cruel, but if we’re going to assume their identities, these servants can’t be left alive. They’ve seen what the real Ren Liuyue looks like."
Therefore, they had to be silenced.
Seeing Shen Ningning remain silent, Mo Lingwei grew uneasy. His handsome brows knitted slightly. "Are you angry?"
Shen Ningning shook her head. "No. I think you did the right thing. If it were up to me, I wouldn’t have had the heart for it. In the future, we’ll have to divide the labor to handle certain things effectively."
Hearing this, Mo Lingwei smiled. "Of course. Leave the heartless, cruel decisions to me. You just need to stay behind me."
Shen Ningning blushed, looked away, and changed the subject.
"By the way, Ren Liuyue agreed. She hates Governor Ren even more than I imagined. I didn’t even have to persuade her; she offered to help and even told me that if I get a chance, I must bring the Ren Family to utter ruin."
Mo Lingwei raised his eyebrows. "It seems she truly despises him. Did she ask why you wanted to take her identity?"
"She did. I told her that Governor Ren had issues with his official duties and we were responsible for investigating. She agreed without hesitation."
Not only did Ren Liuyue agree, but she also told Shen Ningning about the distinguishing features her family would know.
She has a small beauty mark by the corner of her eye, which she’s had since she was a child. Ren Liuyue wasn’t sure if Governor Ren would remember this detail, but she advised Shen Ningning to be mindful of it.
Furthermore, Governor Ren knew her husband’s name was Fang Huan. He was a tutor previously hired by her maternal grandparents and was only five years older than Ren Liuyue.
Based on Mo Lingwei’s appearance, he fit the description perfectly.
Shen Ningning stroked her chin, looking Mo Lingwei up and down. "However, you’ll have to dress a little more modestly."
Mo Lingwei lowered his gaze to his brown robes. "Is this not plain enough?"
’These were already his most ordinary clothes.’
Shen Ningning shook her head. "Definitely not. Governor Ren would see through it. The color may be plain, but the fabric is silk. Ren Liuyue just told us they’re living off the farmland left by her maternal grandparents, and Fang Huan tutors on the side to supplement their income. It’s clear they aren’t very wealthy."
Mo Lingwei pressed his lips together. "Understood. I’ll have the Hidden Guards buy some coarse cloth."
Ren Liuyue’s husband, Fang Huan, awoke later that night. He had been at death’s door, and the first words he spoke were to Ren Liuyue: "Wife, are you all right?"
"Husband," Ren Liuyue cried, collapsing on his chest, tears streaming down her face. "I’m fine. Thankfully, we were rescued by some kind benefactors."
Fang Huan turned his gaze to Shen Ningning and Mo Lingwei and said weakly, "Thank you both for saving us."
"It was nothing, really. The fact that we ran into each other so late means it wasn’t your time to die. However, Mr. Fang, your wounds are very deep. Although I’ve stopped the bleeding, you need to rest for the next few days. You absolutely must not overexert yourself."
Mo Lingwei continued where she left off, adding calmly, "Therefore, we’ve decided to leave our carriage for you. Head south and leave the border territories. We believe Ren Pengyi won’t be able to find you then."
The couple was deeply moved and thanked them profusely.
Ren Liuyue asked with concern, "But if you give us your carriage, what will you two do?"
Shen Ningning beamed. "You don’t need to worry about us. There’s a post station nearby. Besides, since we’re going to the Ren Family under your identities, arriving in too fine a carriage would only arouse suspicion."
Hearing this, Fang Huan looked at Ren Liuyue in confusion. "What does she mean, ’taking our identities’?"
Ren Liuyue quickly explained the situation to her husband.
Fang Huan was deeply moved. He was grateful to them for saving their lives and for making such a considerate arrangement.
"On your journey to Ling Mountain City, you must both be extremely careful. I’ve heard that my father-in-law is a very harsh man. He was never happy about my humble status or my marriage to Liuyue. When you return, he will most likely give you a difficult time."
Mo Lingwei smiled nonchalantly. "We’ll see who makes things difficult for whom."
At the crack of dawn, a Hidden Guard rented an inconspicuous carriage from the nearby post station and brought it back.
As Shen Ningning and Mo Lingwei prepared to leave, they left one Hidden Guard behind to escort Ren Liuyue and Fang Huan out of the border region first.
Shen Ningning also left them some silver for their journey.
Ren Liuyue tried to refuse, but Shen Ningning forcefully pressed it into her hand.
"Take it. Having some silver on you will make your journey south much easier."
Ren Liuyue’s eyes welled with tears. She likely never imagined that her own father would want to kill her, while a young woman she’d only just met by chance would be so generous.
"Miss, I still don’t know your surname."
"My surname is Shen. If you ever have the chance, come find me in the Capital City. I’ll show you all the beautiful sights."
Ren Liuyue and Fang Huan smiled and agreed.
Only then did Shen Ningning board the carriage and depart with Mo Lingwei.
Inside the carriage, Shen Ningning took stock of the bundle Ren Liuyue had given her.
Inside were several family letters exchanged between Ren Liuyue and Governor Ren over the years, some simple hairpins and jewelry, and the jade slips that would prove her and Mo Lingwei’s identities.
By broad daylight, Shen Ningning and Mo Lingwei had stopped in a town to buy a few sets of plain cloth robes for him.
The idea was to make him look more like a humble tutor. But when he put on a simple, long blue robe and fastened the two frog buttons at the collar, he then casually picked up a folding fan from a nearby stall to examine it.
Shen Ningning was astonished.
’He doesn’t look like a tutor at all. He looks more like the refined young son of a wealthy landlord. That air of privilege about him is simply impossible to conceal.’
Seeing Shen Ningning staring, Mo Lingwei’s brow furrowed. "What’s wrong? This outfit won’t do either?"
Shen Ningning gave a helpless smile. "This one will have to do."
’It’s not like changing again would hide his refined, jade-like bearing anyway.’
Mo Lingwei then accompanied Shen Ningning to a clothing shop.
Since Ren Liuyue was married, her hair needed to be put up completely in a bun. But Shen Ningning didn’t know how to style it, so while buying clothes, she asked the female Shopkeeper to help her.
The Shopkeeper was an outgoing, chatty woman.
While styling Shen Ningning’s hair, she noticed Mo Lingwei standing nearby, watching patiently with a gentle expression. The Shopkeeper said, "Sir, you’re so handsome, and your wife is stunning! Her skin is so fair; I’ve never seen a more beautiful young lady. We have many fabrics in the shop that would suit her perfectly. Would you like to pick some out for her? You should buy a few more to take with you."
Shen Ningning had already picked out three outfits, specifically choosing the cheapest ones.
Hearing the words "your wife," Mo Lingwei was instantly delighted. He tapped the folding fan against his palm and said crisply, "Very well. We’ll take them all."
He seemed to have forgotten that his current identity was that of a simple, unremarkable tutor.