Bai Ruozhu was called over by Chengyu and she couldn’t remember any Lady Cui she knew. Soon, she saw a stunning face and was so taken aback that she almost screamed out loud.
In the end, she sensibly kept her mouth shut, believing that screaming would be useless, and might even anger him further.
"It’s you? How did you..." She looked him up and down. He was even taller than Jiang Yichun, but now he was a slender woman of moderate height, even not as tall as Bai Ruozhu.
But Bai Ruozhu quickly realized that there was a secret technique called the Bone Shrinking Skill, which naturally could cause great changes in a person’s physique. Somehow, despite the dangerous situation, her mind drifted off. All she could imagine was Zhou Xinghong lewdly ogling Zhou Jue. She even wondered if the unprincipled emperor of Chengshui Country would force Zhou Jue to shrink his bones to a woman’s shape, so he could more easily treat him as his deceased beloved?
Of course, she had already turned Zhou Xinghong into a somewhat lecherous but elegant uncle in her mind. This version was definitely more suitable for "fujoshi".
"Are you considering how to escape?" Zhou Jue noticed her distraction and raised her willow-like eyebrows. "If you escape, I will kill some of your guests. I assume you wouldn’t be able to bear that responsibility, would you?"
Bai Ruozhu’s complexion changed slightly. She wouldn’t be able to bear that responsibility, nor could she cope with the guilt of others dying because of her.
"I’m not planning to escape. I’m just wondering how you can change like this. Aren’t you the same person?" Bai Ruozhu feigned ignorance.
"Never seen it before, have you?" Zhou Jue revealed a smug look. "This is called the Bone Shrinking Technique. Of course, you wouldn’t have encountered it since you don’t understand martial arts."
"Oh, and how’s your cowpox research going?" Bai Ruozhu asked.
Zhou Jue snorted coldly. "There’s no way it could be done so quickly. But you’re being so well protected now that it’s difficult for me to approach you. So, I simply decided to kidnap you instead. Now you’re the one who has to deal with this problem. Isn’t that much more efficient?" He laughed after speaking. However, the laughter was not that of a man but that of a delicate woman.
Bai Ruozhu couldn’t help but stare at him, somewhat dumbfounded. Was this person really a man? So beautiful, it would be better if he would just completely transform into a woman.
Zhou Jue noticed her gaze and gently touched his cheek, speaking in a soft and charming voice: "What, are you envious and jealous?"
I’m even resentful! But Bai Ruozhu managed to hide her feelings behind a calm smile, replying, "Yes, both envious and jealous."
"Your flattering words are useless. You won’t be able to escape today."
Bai Ruozhu heard the latter half of his sentence just as she was about to black out. She had always been on guard, but never expected to lose consciousness with just one touch from him.
...
Near noon, Jiang Yichun was playing with Dengdeng on the horse carriage at the entrance, but he suddenly became very anxious. He kept looking out the window of the carriage, wondering why Ruozhu hadn’t come out yet, or why she hadn’t come to see Dengdeng. Wasn’t it time to feed the baby?
Linpinger suddenly ran out of the manor, anxiously informing Jiang Yichun, "Chang Sheng, Ruozhu has disappeared! There must be something wrong. We’ve searched the entire manor but we can’t find her!"
"Mother, please tell me calmly, where was the last place she was seen?" Jiang Yichun hurriedly asked.
"The maid Chengyu called her over to meet a guest named Lady Cui. She hasn’t reappeared ever since, and Lady Cui also disappeared!" Linpinger was almost crying with worry. "There must be something wrong with that Lady Cui. I should have accompanied her when she went to meet her. You have to find a way to bring Ruozhu back."
"Mother, you take care of Dengdeng, I’m going to look for Ruozhu. You all stay in the manor and don’t leave, I will arrange for someone to protect you here." Jiang Yichun’s words came out in a rush, revealing his current state of mind.
Once Dengdeng was handed over to Linpinger, Jiang Yichun signaled his men to come forward. With a stern face, he ordered, "Search within a five hundred li radius, don’t miss any possibilities."
"Sir, how did he manage to get in and take someone away when our guard is so tight?" One of the guards asked in confusion.
Jiang Yichun suddenly became calm; he couldn’t afford to lose his rationality due to worry.
After a moment’s silence, a realization dawned in his eyes, "It’s a woman!"
Correct, the only ones who came in and out were women. Zhou Jue could easily disguise himself as a woman!
"Check quickly if Lady Cui’s carriage has left," Jiang Yichun immediately ordered.
Soon, the guards reported that Lady Cui’s carriage was still there and that only one lady had left. Jiang Yichun recalled that he had seen her leave and watched her closely, sure that she had not taken Ruozhu away with her.
His eyes narrowed. He had almost let panic cloud his judgement and would have fallen for his enemy’s trick. He would have fallen for the ’lure the tiger out of the mountain’ tactic!
"Secure the manor, the person is still inside and waiting for us to leave so they can escape!" Jiang Yichun said quietly to his subordinates. He then silently used sign language to instruct his men that he will pretend to leave and hide nearby, releasing a hidden signal here when something happens.
Everyone understood his instructions as they prepared themselves for a tough battle to come.
Jiang Yichun was about to leave when he suddenly stopped, and gave another set of instructions using sign language. He remembered Bai Ruozhu’s concern for their business here and knew that he couldn’t start a fight in this place. If they did, no future customers would dare to come, and his wife would surely be upset.
Jiang Yichun and his men hurried off, seeming to be in hot pursuit of Bai Ruozhu, but they hid not far away instead.
About thirty minutes later, the hot spring pool stirred with a splash as someone emerged from underneath the water- a petite woman carrying another fully soaked woman. It was none other than the missing Bai Ruozhu!
Unfortunately, Bai Ruozhu was unconscious at this moment, else she would have regretted it. Zhou Jue had dressed up so beautifully, but his clothes were soaking wet, revealing the flat chest beneath them and exposing his gender.
Unfortunately, there weren’t many people around this area who could witness this bizarre scene. Only the sentries outside noticed the movements inside and silently signaled to their companions.
Zhou Jue looked around and suddenly flung something out. Then, using his lightness skill, he jumped onto the wall while holding Bai Ruozhu and made a run for it.
The guards outside received the signal and hurriedly covered their mouths and noses with specially made drug cloths.
As soon as Zhou Jue appeared, he was attacked. He snorted disdainfully. Did these people think they could stop him? Suddenly, his body crackled and he gradually stretched, transforming back to his original size.
"Let you have a taste of my skill." He referred to himself as ’this young master’, but the voice and posture in which he chose to phrase it were completely feminine. It was a strange sight, but none of the guards dared to underestimate him.
He threw out a smoke bomb and rushed in a different direction, seizing a horse before quickly mounting it.
"Die!" He shouted out sharply and hurled a hidden weapon.