Chapter 706: A Skillful Pair of Hands
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Hearing Mingzhu’s words, Dong Hui and Su Momo exchanged glances and signaled to Jiang Zhouzi. Jiang Zhouzi nodded silently, and the three of them quickly reached a consensus. If they were discovered later, one of Dong Hui or Su Momo would divert the attention of Yuwen Cong and the others, while the rest would take Mingzhu and run. In any case, Mingzhu couldn’t fall into the hands of Yuwen Cong and the others, otherwise, there would be big trouble.
Mingzhu was highly nervous and didn’t realize that the three of them had already made a decision.
This time’s inspection was much simpler than before but more targeted. Anyone suspected was brought in front of Yuwen Cong and Yuwen Qiang for a personal inspection.
A young handsome man was suspected of being a woman and had his pants stripped off directly. Dong Hui gritted her teeth, and Mingzhu felt that this was clearly a ploy by Yuwen Cong to scare her. After all, with her identity, it would be unthinkable for her to be stripped and examined like this. It would be more merciful to just give her a knife.
Dong Hui whispered, “Yuwen Cong has seen me more than once. I think I won’t be able to escape. Let’s say goodbye here. With my skills, I should be able to escape. I’ll catch up with you.” With that, she stepped back. She had thought it over. If she exposed herself first, it would only make Yuwen Cong intensify his pursuit of the people behind her. It was better to let Mingzhu pass first, and she would act accordingly.
Mingzhu reacted, but Dong Hui had already moved far away. She couldn’t call her back or pull her back. Looking at Su Momo and Jiang Zhouzi, they both had the look of a monk entering deep meditation. It seemed that they had already discussed that they would protect Mingzhu at all costs and help her cross the border. Mingzhu was anxious and broke out in a cold sweat, but she had no way to change the situation.
Soon it was their turn.
Yuwen Chu’s forged identity documents were flawless, but Yuwen Qiang kept the documents and showed them to Yuwen Cong. “They’re from the capital.”
Yuwen Cong said, “Call them over.”
Jiang Zhouzi pretended to be frightened and walked forward, whispering to Mingzhu, “Have confidence in my makeup skills. Don’t lose your composure.”
“Mm.” Mingzhu rallied herself and followed Jiang Zhouzi and Su Momo forward.
Yuwen Cong twirled his riding crop in his hand, his sharp eyes scanning Mingzhu and the others. “You’re from the capital? What month did you leave? Why did you leave the capital? Where are you going?”
Jiang Zhouzi had prepared in advance and answered one by one according to the prearranged plan. Yuwen Qian had also seen Mingzhu before. Seeing that their answers were flawless and didn’t seem suspicious, he lost interest and lazily threw the documents on the ground. “Go!”
“What an uncivilized brute! I curse you to be pierced by ten thousand arrows, with your anus blocked and no one to treat you, so you’ll painfully swell up and die!” Jiang Zhouzi inwardly cursed Yuwen Qiang, hating him with a passion. Smiling, he bent down to pick up the documents and, together with Su Momo, supported Mingzhu on either side as they walked forward. The group let out a collective sigh of relief, though they were still worried about Donghui and Jing Song behind them.
But Yuwen Cong lazily said, “Stop.”
This is bad! Mingzhu’s heart suddenly sank, and she stiffened, slowly turning back. Jiang Zhouzi accompanied with a smile, “Does this gentleman have any orders?”
Yuwen Cong smiled and asked, “You just said that you two are an elderly couple taking your daughter back to your hometown?”
Jiang Zhouzi nodded, “Yes, the capital is too chaotic, and we couldn’t survive there.”
Yuwen Cong then said, “With such a long journey, you two elderly people are taking a delicate daughter with a big belly, without even a carriage, and just this little luggage. It’s really not easy to make it here safely.”
Originally, with Jing Song as the “eldest son” and Dong Hui as the “uncle,” there would be no doubts. However, these two happened to be absent, which became a loophole.
But Jiang Zhouzi was an experienced traveler, and upon hearing this, he suddenly looked sorrowful, “Originally, we had the uncle with us, but halfway, we encountered refugees and the uncle was killed.”
Thinking of Dong Hui’s uncertain fate, Mingzhu’s eyes reddened instantly. Afraid that tears would ruin her makeup, she quickly took out a handkerchief to cover her eyes. Su Momo timely pulled her into her arms and whispered, “Don’t be sad, my dear. This is fate.”
Seeing the family crying, Yuwen Qian became a little impatient, “Since it’s not them, let them go. There are still thousands of people behind them.”
Ignoring him, Yuwen Cong walked towards Mingzhu and stopped in front of her, “Young lady, you have a pair of good hands.”
Mingzhu knew it was trouble as soon as she heard that. Her hands were quite distinctive. When she was slender, they were plump and fair. Even though she had gained weight, they remained the same, just slightly fleshier than before. Although Jiang Zhouzi had applied makeup to match her skin tone, someone as sharp as Yuwen Cong wouldn’t overlook this detail.
Sure enough, Yuwen Cong smiled and said, “These hands of yours clearly haven’t suffered any hardship.”
Before Mingzhu could answer, Su Momo quickly replied, “Yes, sir, you have a keen eye. We only have this only daughter, and we’ve pampered her since she was young. We couldn’t bear to let her do anything.”
Yuwen Cong neither agreed nor disagreed, “I didn’t ask you just now, what kind of business do you do in the capital?”
Jiang Zhouzi calmly replied, “We sell dried goods.”
Yuwen Cong then asked Mingzhu, “Since your family sells dried goods, you must be quite knowledgeable about them, right?”
Mingzhu didn’t fall for it. Su Momo just said she was pampered since childhood and couldn’t bear to let her do anything. If she now claimed to be knowledgeable, wouldn’t it be a slap in her own face? So she timidly replied, “It depends on what it is. If it’s the few things that this little lady likes to eat, then naturally, I understand. As for others, I would have to ask my parents.”
Yuwen Cong smiled, “Indeed, you’ve been pampered.” He then pointed at Mingzhu’s face sternly, “What have you applied on your face?”
Mingzhu’s heart almost jumped out of her throat in fear, but she had reached the peak of fear and decided to confront it. She stared blankly at Yuwen Cong and said, “This little lady doesn’t understand what the gentleman is talking about.”
Yuwen Cong stared at her, sneering softly, “Go wash your face over there. Once others can’t recognize you, I still can. You’re Fu Mingzhu.”
Mingzhu was dumbfounded, “Huh? Wash my face? Why should I wash my face?”
Jiang Zhouzi quickly came forward, pulling her behind him and bowing to Yuwen Cong, “This girl is quite foolish. Is the gentleman asking her to wash her face? Understood, but where can she wash it?”
Yuwen Cong was just about to call someone to bring water when he heard a commotion behind him. Someone shouted loudly, “Stop him! Stop him!” Then he saw a carriage speeding from behind, heading straight for the checkpoint.
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