Plotting with You: The Forensic Scientist in Ancient Times!-Chapter 139 - 138: Disguise

Zhu Yu saw the two characters coming together, and only then understood Lu Qing’s intention.

Seeing that she had understood, Lu Qing took out a flint and burned the paper into a pile of black ash.

"Go and rest, there’s nothing we can do before night falls." He then patted the golden silk armor placed by Zhu Yu on the edge of the table, "Remember to wear this under your clothes before we set off."

Since he said so, Zhu Yu obediently took the soft armor back to her room, lay down fully clothed, and forced herself not to speculate about what would happen next. After a while, she drifted into sleep.

She slept for a long time, but perhaps because she had been overthinking in the past two days, the long sleep was not very restful.

Zhu Yu dreamt of herself in a luxurious gown, walking arm in arm with the equally well-dressed Lu Qing. They returned to find that, in the mere two or three months since they left, the Prince Shuo Mansion had transformed grandly. Zhu Cheng stood joyfully at the door to greet them, speaking warmly with Lu Qing and inviting them inside.

But just at the entrance, Zhu Yu suddenly discovered a bottomless pit in the courtyard of the Prince Shuo Mansion. Looking down, it was pitch black, and there was even a gust of eerie wind blowing through.

"Father, how can this be?" Zhu Yu’s heart raced as she hurriedly grabbed her father and Lu Qing, who were about to go inside, "There’s such a deep pit on the ground, how can you still live here? This won’t do, it’s too dangerous!"

Zhu Cheng nonchalantly pulled back his sleeve and pointed to the side: "Look! Isn’t there a small path along the wall to go around it? Why make such a fuss?

Now that you’re married, you’re part of the household, a woman who shouldn’t be concerned with so much!"

Zhu Yu woke with a start and sat up in bed; outside, the light had dimmed, indicating it was near dusk.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, she calmed her heart rate.

The dream was not particularly terrifying, not even a complete nightmare, yet there was an inexplicable unease in her heart.

Ultimately, it must be because of the Lai Jiao.

Lai Jiao is not particularly common in Shuo Country, not easily found, nor widely known by the people.

If that nanny hadn’t happened to experience it and told her and her sisters about it, Zhu Yu might not know such a thing existed in Shuo Country.

For Lai Jiao to be discovered and used means Shuo Country is likely being exploited far beyond this small poisonous seed.

Her hand moved along the edge of the bed, her fingers touched something cold.

Looking down, it was the golden silk armor that Lu Qing had given her.

Zhu Yu got up, took off her outer robe, and wore the golden silk armor on top of her inner garments.

The golden silk armor had some weight, yet it did not feel burdensome. It was soft and didn’t make her feel clumsy. The finely woven golden rings were tightly connected, and Zhu Yu poked it with her finger, feeling that it could indeed block knives and swords. Stabbing was prevented, though it would probably still hurt.

So... she needed to keep her spirits up and be cautious.

Before long, Fu Lu came to invite Zhu Yu to dinner. After eating, Lu Qing instructed Fu Lu to close the door well.

"Close your eyes." Lu Qing stood up, took a small wooden box from under the table, placed it on the table, and covered her eyes with his hand, "Do not open them until I tell you to."

Zhu Yu did not know what he was about to do, but she obediently closed her eyes.

She only felt something being smeared on her face, initially cool, which made her shiver.

But the cool sensation soon vanished, leaving only a slight tightness without other strangeness.

Zhu Yu could feel Lu Qing’s fingertips gliding across her face, moving slowly and gently. After a while, she heard his voice coming from above her: "Open your eyes."

Zhu Yu opened her eyes and saw Fu Lu standing opposite her, holding a bronze mirror. In the mirror was a face, and Zhu Yu was taken aback.

Although it was clearly her face, it seemed somewhat unfamiliar.

The skin of the person in the mirror appeared rough, as if weathered by wind and sand. The complexion was a yellowish-black, with thick, broad eyebrows, and prominent cheekbones, resembling a soldier who trained hard on the drill ground.

"Your appearance, disguised as a somewhat fragile small soldier in the military, is quite passable. The only flaw is your too fair skin." Lu Qing nodded with satisfaction at Zhu Yu’s face, which he had altered, "With such slight adjustments, no one would notice anything amiss."

Zhu Yu carefully looked in the mirror again and realized that unless someone knew her very well, anyone would think this face belonged to a slightly delicate-looking young man.

She recalled that during their time in Qingshui County, Lu Qing had disguised himself as her attendant when they went out together and met the Wang Shan family, which brewed wine.

At that time, she almost didn’t recognize the disguised Lu Qing, mistaking him for an unfamiliar, yellow-faced man.

Lu Qing nodded in satisfaction and turned to adjust his own appearance.

Fu Lu stood quietly to the side. Zhu Yu, curious, asked him, "Don’t you need to disguise yourself too?"

"I don’t need to." Fu Lu smiled, loosened his meticulously tied hair bun, made his hair messy, and casually tied it with a cloth strip. The bun was low and slightly crooked, with wisps of hair hanging at the front and sides.

Then he turned to a nearby incense burner, scooped some ash with his hand, and smeared it on his face, especially above his eyebrows.

Fu Lu, a martial artist, while not as large and muscular as his brother Fu Lu, was still dark-skinned. After his own handiwork, his original majestic presence vanished. With drooping eyelids and a hunched posture, he appeared worn and spiritless.

It seemed as if he had done this many times before, quite expertly.

By this time, Lu Qing had finished and walked over. Zhu Yu looked up and saw that he had transformed himself into someone appearing over forty, with a convincingly scarred, rugged face.

"Whether all these strange happenings are rooted in the waist card is still uncertain," Lu Qing reminded Zhu Yu, "Going to the military camp this time might be tough. Remember not to touch anything lightly. You’re just a ’small soldier,’ with nothing you must do personally."

Zhu Yu nodded, pointing to Lu Qing and Fu Lu: "If the sky falls, there are taller ones to hold it up. I definitely won’t act rashly."