Chapter 86 The Empress Destroyed Your Country (12)

“Speak.” Nie Suzhi only uttered one word, not bothering to waste words unnecessarily.

Li Xing’er dared not withhold any information, and in a rush, she conveyed all that she knew.

“Your Majesty… this is all I know,” Li Xing’er said, her nerves frayed. She didn’t know if she would live or die.

The sharp edge of the executioner’s blade was ever so close to her neck, and the difference between life and death lay in the words of this man before her. 

Nie Suzhi didn’t even bother to say a word more. He waved his hand and De Fu understood, “Take Li Xing’er back to the Department of Punishment.”

Li Xing’er breathed a sigh of relief as she was dragged away by two guards. Her life was spared, and that was all she could hope for.

“De Fu, do you think the Bai Tang in Li Xinger’s mouth is the same person as my Empress?” Nie Suzhi’s fingers, beautiful as jade, tapped the surface of the golden-threaded hardwood table, producing a crisp and pleasant sound.

“This… Your Majesty, they are the same person!” De Fu was a bit puzzled by His Majesty’s unclear meaning. After all, no one could impersonate her. They had the same face and body.

Nie Suzhi continued, “Have someone bring me the clothes my Empress wore, the jewelry she wore, and… those two red-tasseled spears.”

Nie Suzhi didn’t really want to mention those red-tasseled spears. The feeling of having them pierced through his chest was not pleasant. De Fu left with his orders.

Nie Suzhi carefully recalled what Bai Tang said and the Bai Tang among Li Xing’er and the others.

He was certain that the previous Bai Tang was not the same as his Empress.

If she had that kind of ability, then she wouldn’t have watched General Luo slaughter the entire village. So, who could it be?

***

Bai Tang entered a ready-to-wear store with Wen Yueqing. Wen Yueqing was clever and quickly understood what Bai Tang wanted to do.

Bai Tang lowered her voice and said, “Why don’t I pretend to be an old lady, and you can be my granddaughter?”

Bai Tang found it quite amusing to pretend to be an elderly lady with an unsteady gait. She didn’t want the beautiful and charming Wen Yueqing to do such things.

Wen Yueqing felt a bit uneasy, as two women traveling together might attract unwanted attention, so she suggested, “Why don’t we pretend to be a married couple?”

“Yes, husband and wife.” Wen Yueqing reaffirmed. “Miss Bai pretends to be my husband, and I will pretend to be your wife.”

Bai Tang pointed at herself and asked, “Me? Pretend to be Miss Wen’s husband? Are you serious?”

Wen Yueqing nodded, her eyes shining like water, “I have never seen a man more dashing and carefree than Miss Bai. If Miss Bai were to dress as a man, you would surely be unparalleled in grace and elegance. To be honest, when you carried me away tonight, your radiance surpassed that of any man in the world. If Miss Bai were a man, I would willingly give my heart and hand in marriage. Since we are both women, there is no loss for us.”

Wen Yueqing also had some selfish motives. Following Bai Tang, she felt very safe.

Bai Tang had no reason to refuse after Wen Yueqing said that. She put on men’s clothing, and despite the dim light of the night, Bai Tang exuded a stunning aura of a dashing and elegant gentleman. Wen Yueqing also changed into a set of clothes, and Bai Tang did some work on her face and body.

Bai Tang’s features became more profound and her lines became more sharp, while her skin tone turned into a wheat color. Wen Yueqing’s face underwent a drastic transformation under Bai Tang’s expert handiwork, and she became a mature and poised woman. It was hard to imagine that they were the same people as the ones depicted in the wanted posters.

After finishing their disguises, Bai Tang and Wen Yueqing tidied up the place and secretly burned their old clothes. Bai Tang made a mental note of the shopkeeper and planned to compensate him later. Stealing was stealing, and no amount of excuses could justify it.

Bai Tang and Wen Yueqing confirmed each other’s information again. Bai Tang would be Tang Bai, the husband, and Wen Yueqing would be Bai Yue, the wife.

——