Phi-Fic Chapter 510 Xie Jingchun's Storyline: Pretending to be Husband and Wife
Chapter 510 Xie Jingchun's Storyline: Pretending to be Husband and Wife
Three days later, the morning mist had not yet dissipated, the grass on both sides of the official road was slightly damp, and birds were chirping softly.
Xie Jingchun wore a plain short robe, and Nan Nan followed behind him wearing a veiled hat.
The two arrived at a secluded inn on the outskirts of Yuanzhen.
The inn was very inconspicuous, with its exterior walls mottled.
The two entered a private room upstairs, where Zhou Ningchuan was already waiting for them.
When he saw Nan Nan walk in, he showed no surprise whatsoever.
He knew that Nan Nan would come and that she would be able to persuade Xie Jingchun.
He handed the two bundles to the couple, saying, "You will enter the town as a married couple later. You also have identity documents, which were forged in advance and the details were handled carefully."
Nan Nan took the bundle, lowered her eyes, and nodded.
Xie Jingchun frowned slightly. "Let's go inside. What about you?"
Zhou Ningchuan turned around, opened the window, and pointed to the mountains and forests to the southeast.
"We will be hiding on the perimeter, with sentries rotating. You can use this if you encounter any emergencies."
As he spoke, he took out a small brocade box from his sleeve and handed it to Xie Jingchun.
It is a red pipe about the size of a thumb, with fine patterns engraved at the end.
"Simply pull the bottom mechanism to release smoke; red indicates an alarm, cyan indicates withdrawal, and gray indicates temporary safety."
“We will keep watch outside the town for three days. If we do not receive a signal within three days, we will try to force our way in.”
Xie Jingchun nodded and put the pipe away. "Understood."
"Two rooms have been booked. Go and change your clothes," Zhou Ningchuan instructed.
A quarter of an hour later.
Nan Nan emerged from behind the screen, her originally long and slender hair now neatly styled into a woman's bun, adorned with a silver hairpin at her temple, giving her a gentle and dignified appearance.
Xie Jingchun stood by the door, turned his head, and froze.
This was the first time he had seen her dressed like this.
It lacked the restraint of a palace maid and possessed more of the gentle warmth of an ordinary family.
He looked at her and suddenly smiled softly.
"You really do look like someone else's young lady."
Nan Nan also looked at him, and saw that Xie Jingchun's hair was also neatly tied up, with the hairpin tightly attached to his hair bun.
It was completely different from his previous youthful and spirited appearance.
This calmed him down considerably, giving him a more composed and reserved demeanor befitting a married man.
Nan Nan unconsciously curved her eyes into a smile and smiled softly.
"Young Master Chun doesn't seem like the general he usually is."
Xie Jingchun looked at her smile, his ears turning slightly red, and coughed lightly.
"He is my husband, not a general."
Nan Nan was taken aback, and her face turned red.
The two looked at each other for a moment and then chuckled softly.
Zhou Ningchuan leaned against a pillar in the corridor. When he saw them come out, he raised an eyebrow and spoke with a teasing tone.
"Oh, they're actually a better match than I imagined."
"With this outfit, they really do look like a newlywed couple."
Xie Jingchun blushed slightly, pretending not to hear what was said, and lowered her head to straighten her sleeves.
Zhou Ningchuan quickly stopped joking and said seriously, "After you go in, remember to be careful with your words and actions. If you do anything wrong, you may be tested or even targeted."
As he spoke, he unfolded a hand-drawn sketch and pointed to a winding path on it.
"The town entrance is located after the forest road. Go around this mountain road, and the town gate will be just ahead. Go around from the west side; the journey takes about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn."
He rolled up the drawing, handed it to Xie Jingchun, and glanced at the two of them again.
"If no signal is received within three days, I will try to forcibly break into the town."
"But until then, you must protect yourselves."
Xie Jingchun nodded and put the scroll away. "I understand."
Nan Nan nodded slightly. "We'll be careful."
A quarter of an hour later.
Xie Jingchun led the horse over, turned around and reached out to help Nan Nan onto the saddle.
The two rode their horses away from the inn, one after the other, and sped off towards Yuanzhen.
At the entrance to Yuanzhen Town, the stone lions on both sides are mottled, and the iron gate is half closed.
The fog outside the town had not yet dissipated, and the shadows of several old locust trees lay askew, creating a desolate and oppressive atmosphere.
Xie Jingchun and Nan Nan rode up, and as soon as they dismounted, two townspeople dressed in gray-blue short shirts came out of the gate and blocked their way.
"What are you doing here?"
Xie Jingchun hadn't yet figured out what to say and was about to take out the document from his pocket when Nannan stepped forward.
She lowered her eyes, her voice tinged with sorrow, "We've come to ask for a child."
The townsman frowned, his sharp eyes sweeping over her before glancing at Xie Jingchun.
Nan Nan seemed genuinely embarrassed to speak, and added in a low voice.
"We've been married for three years and have traveled to many places. People said this place...is effective, so we came."
Her eyes were slightly red, she was clutching her sleeves tightly, and her expression was pitiful and sincere.
Xie Jingchun was stunned behind her, not expecting her to act so naturally, and almost couldn't say a word for a moment.
But he reacted quickly.
He stepped forward, put his arm around her shoulder, and whispered, "Madam..."
The townsman's expression softened somewhat, as if he had been persuaded.
But he still looked her up and down for a moment before asking, "Did you bring the official documents?"
Nan Nan obediently took out the fake document she had prepared beforehand from her bosom and handed it over.
The townsman took the document, checked it, and whispered to the person next to him, "Okay, let them in."
The town gate slowly opened.
The two men led their horses into the town, and the door behind them slammed shut again, cutting off the outside light.
The surrounding mountains and forests of Yuanzhen.
Zhou Ningchuan stood on a high slope half-hidden behind rocks.
Gazing into the distance, his brows furrowed slightly, his expression revealing surprise.
They just went in like that?
He had previously sent nearly four teams of people to pose as a married couple, but none of them were able to get in; they were all blocked.
Even with Xie Jingchun and Nan Nan, he didn't have much hope.
I just wanted to give it a try.
But now, they've gotten in so easily!
How did they do that?!
-
After Xie Jingchun entered, he subconsciously glanced back at the tightly closed iron gate, then turned to look at Nannan, and couldn't help but whisper, "What you just did..."
Nan Nan patted his hand and whispered, "Don't speak yet, let's talk when we get to the guest room."
Xie Jingchun nodded silently.
Surprisingly, the town was not as eerie and bizarre as rumored.
The streets are clean, the stone slabs are new and tidy, the walls are white and the tiles are black, and the townspeople are dressed simply and walk slowly.
Peach blossoms are everywhere, and green vines hang down from the walls, creating a tranquil scene reminiscent of a secluded paradise.
A peddler strolled by slowly carrying his load, and the aroma of tea wafted from the tea shop.
Children were laughing and playing at the alley entrance.
It's almost as if people have forgotten that this place once swallowed up several couples.
Before long, a kind-looking middle-aged woman approached, dressed in faded old clothes, with a friendly smile.
"Newcomers? It's getting late, you'll probably be staying at an inn tonight."
"Look," the middle-aged woman pointed, "that's the only inn around here."
Xie Jingchun and Nan Nan looked in the direction she was pointing.
The inn is located in a streamside alley in the center of town. It has a rustic appearance and is a two-story wooden building.
A small plaque with the words "Xinglaiju" hangs at the entrance, the characters written in a slender, elegant hand.
There weren't many guests coming and going at the inn, but they were all couples, dressed differently, but all of them looked like husband and wife.
The innkeeper was a thin, tall middle-aged man. Upon hearing that the two wanted to stay at the inn, he took out a brass key and then took down a wooden sign from the wooden shelf behind him that read "Second Floor, East Third Floor".
"One room for couples."
Xie Jingchun coughed lightly, quickly composed himself, and accepted the gift without changing his expression, saying, "Thank you for your trouble."