The face beneath the mask was like carved jade, its inherent brilliance capable of transforming the humble, dim room into an emperor's palace, even in its current setting.
"You, you..."
Er Gou's eyes flashed with astonishment, the amazement quickly replaced by utter shock. He almost felt as though everything before him was an absurd dream.
The Cook's eyes widened, those eyes that always seemed misty now shone as if two lamps had been stuffed into them.
She looked down at the human skin mask tossed beside her hand.
She raised her hand, about to touch it, but then remembered that such masks required specific nutrient solutions for maintenance. If she damaged it by carelessly touching it, even if she sold herself, she wouldn't have enough to cover the cost of her two pounds of flesh.
"Oh, I misspoke!"
Nan Shiying casually picked up the human skin mask that the Cook dared not even touch, then casually tossed it in front of Er Gou. "From today onwards, you are Feng Luan!"
Er Gou and the Cook exchanged glances. They suspected this was merely someone's twisted sense of humor rather than a genuine mistake, but alas, they had no evidence and dared not expose it.
Er Gou scratched his scalp, feeling as though a cold wind had blown into his neck. The skin around his collar felt chillingly cold, as if a knife hovered a centimeter away from his throat.
He glanced at the human skin mask beside him, then at the man— no, woman— no… person before him, who was breathtakingly beautiful. What kind of person had they followed? Master, do you even know this person's true identity? She isn't Feng Luan, she isn't Feng Luan, she isn't!
Er Gou cried out in his heart.
"You... then... I..."
Er Gou stammered, utterly stunned by the scene before him. He had never doubted the other's identity, for who in this world would dare impersonate Feng Luan and use Feng Luan's name to represent the Regent on a mission to the border?
That was a crime punishable by the extermination of one's entire clan!
Er Gou felt a pang of fear. He wanted to live a few more years, at least enough to save for his coffin!
"Afraid?" Nan Shiying watched Er Gou with a half-smile, her eyes shimmering with the gentle glow of water as she glanced around. Er Gou finally understood what it meant for beauty to topple cities and further topple nations. He was blinded by her unparalleled beauty, feeling in that moment that such perfection should not exist in this world, but rather be a celestial fairy encountered in a dream journey through the heavens.
When her playfully worded question fell into Er Gou's ears, he felt both anger and shame. His anger stemmed from a man's pride, and his shame arose from the guilt born of that anger. He felt he shouldn't be afraid, shouldn't be timid. A man, standing between heaven and earth, should be valiant and unrestrained, not fearful!
"Not afraid! How could I be afraid!"
Er Gou's spirit surged like a tidal wave, his voice resonating like the striking of a temple bell, deep and loud!
He grabbed the human skin mask, his voice erupting with a passion and determination that the Cook had never seen in him since she had known him.
The Cook: "..."
Idiot!
"Very good!"
Nan Shiying's praise made Er Gou's heart stir, and a silly grin involuntarily spread across his face.
The Cook turned her head away, unwilling to look at him.
"Ling Lan!"
Nan Shiying called out to the Cook. Upon hearing the name, the Cook froze for a second before realizing she was being addressed. She turned her head, gazing at Nan Shiying, her eyes falling into the star-dusted pupils of Nan Shiying. Seeing her own reflection shimmering among the starlight in Nan Shiying's eyes, the Cook had never imagined human eyes could be so beautiful.
Thinking that Ling Lan was the name Nan Shiying had given her, the Cook felt as though the two characters themselves were filled with starlight.
The Cook's face flushed slightly. She looked at Nan Shiying with a devotion akin to a believer awaiting a divine decree.
"From now on, you are my sister... Your name is Luan Xiaodie, you are thirteen years old, and we live in an alley off Jinmen Cross Street. Our parents are deceased, and a few months ago, we went to live with our widowed aunt. Our aunt's name is Luan Caixia, and she lives in Ji Jia Alley, behind the tenth stall on Xianglan Street in Wucheng!"
"My name is Luan Fengjiu, I am eighteen years old, and I am your sister!"
"Crack~"
The Cook seemed to hear a shattering sound. She looked around, then lowered her head. Ah, it was the sound of her heart breaking!
Sister?
She was actually a woman?? How could she be a woman??
The Cook subconsciously lowered her gaze to Nan Shiying's chest, but the thick winter clothing obscured her view.
Nan Shiying raised an eyebrow slightly, unfazed by the Cook's scrutiny, and simply asked, "Remembered?"
The Cook looked up. Ever since Nan Shiying had removed her mask, her eyes seemed to be filled with tenderness whenever she looked at anything. The Cook suddenly felt that whether Nan Shiying was a man or a woman no longer seemed that important.
The Cook's mind wasn't particularly quick; to be precise, it was slow to turn, but her memory was perfectly fine. She repeated the information just given, recalling about eighty percent, only struggling to remember the specific street and alley. Nan Shiying didn't have extremely high expectations for the Cook, as long as she could remember: "No hurry, you have the entire night to memorize it!"
The Cook nodded. Nan Shiying then turned to Er Gou and said, "You only need to leave Wucheng wearing this face. Someone will help you conceal your whereabouts. Upon entering Jinmen City, you can remove the mask. As for what to do next, I will give you a brocade pouch; just follow its instructions!"
"Any other questions?"
Er Gou had a stomach full of questions. He had regretted picking up the mask as soon as he did, but now it was a done deal; there was no turning back. He had no right to refuse. The moment Nan Shiying had revealed her face to him and the Cook, they had been tied together by a rope, with Nan Shiying holding the edge and dangling the bound rope over the edge of a cliff.
They had no choice but to climb up obediently.
Er Gou decided not to ask any more questions. Who this person was, what she intended to do, and whether she had any connection to Feng Luan or the Regent no longer mattered.
He shook his head, his answer having a double meaning: "No questions!"
"Excellent!"
Nan Shiying nodded. She stood up and walked towards the door, but halfway there, she seemed to recall something and turned back to Er Gou. "Oh, right, this mask is about to be retired. Burn it after you're done!"
Er Gou: "..."
Such human skin masks, if carefully maintained, could be used for a long time. This one of hers… Er Gou remembered how carelessly she had taken it off and tossed it around, and fell silent.