Chapter 12
The Chang Kun temple is not far from the capital city. It had already been mentioned previously, but Zi Li rushed his escape without having enough preparation. Because of that, the travel that normally takes two hours when riding a horse took Zi Li all evening by foot. When he saw the city walls from the distance, the sun was already shining brightly.
Zi Li massages his sour legs and feet. With a bundle of cloth wrapping his face down to his shoulder, he walked towards the city gates without hesitation. On his back was the two little demons blindly following on his heels with hurried steps, as if they were afraid that he will secretly slip away if they weren’t careful enough!
Zi Li walked in front without a word, his eyes looking around in high spirits. Now how do I lose these two stumbling blocks?
“Y-your highness, is the emperor not at the Chang Kun Temple? Is that why we went back here in the capital to look for him?” One of the kids couldn’t help himself anymore from asking because it was bothering him since last night.
“You fools, the emperor will not entertain anyone in the monastery. It will be unlikely to escape the punishment of being beaten up like a sandbag if we acted rashly. We will go to his residence’s doorsteps and wait there. In a day or two, we are bound to see him!” Zi Li sincerely relayed his fake excuse.
He still had some doubts in their hearts, but the older kid didn’t ask anymore.
The three walked in with a load in each of their minds. The guards standing at the checkpoint crosses their spears, cutting of their path as an indication for them to stop and show their pass. He already anticipated it earlier so Zi Li flashed the bronze city pass he extorted from that rich but dumb young lord. Upon examining the pass, the guards lets him through.
“Hold on, how about these two? They are not allowed to enter without a pass.” Zi Li can go, but the two filthy little beggars behind him were not allowed to pass.
“Senior officers,” The two little demons pointed at Zi Li and said at the same time, “we are his servants.”
Zi Li’s heart froze. These damned little demons, did they discussed this ahead of time? Such smooth talkers!
The guards turned their heads towards Zi Li and gave him a look as if they are demanding an answer.
“Yes, they are my young servants travelling with me on the road!” Zi Li unwillingly answered while feeling helpless.
The three of them entered the city and kept walking until Zi Li stopped in front of a restaurant. He cleared his throat and turned around to face the two little demons to say: “Your highness have some important matter to do, you two wait here.”
While the older kid listen, he was assessing if they should wait here obediently and let Zi Li go on his own? They immediately pulled on Zi Li’s sleeves and looked at him with pitiful eyes. Their dirty fingers digging on his clothes left a mark of black muddy dirt on the crescent moon patterns of Zi Li’s white robes.
“What are you guys worrying about? Are you perhaps thinking that if you two stayed behind in the entrance, you are worried your highness will run away?” Zi Li deliberately said in a displeased tone.
Hearing his argument, the older kid thought he had a point. He was resentful but he was forced to let Zi Li go. However, he is still wasn’t rest assured so he reminded him: “Your highness already gave your word that you will help us. You cannot go back on your words, o-otherwise, people will sneer at your infamy of keeping broken promises!”
This boy actually had the guts to threaten the great me!? I threaten people ever since I’m at your age while you kids are still sucking your mom’s tits! And besides, compared to living a confined life like a house pet, this ‘infamy of keeping broken promises’ is nothing!
Zi Li had such thoughts yet he said without batting an eyelid: “I got it, I got it. Does this highness looks like a person whose words can’t be trusted? You guys wait, I’ll come out once I’m done with my matters.”
Zi Li went inside the restaurant along with the other costumers. The older kid didn’t dare to be complacent and watches the entrance closely.
On the other side, Zi Li finally rejoices now that he finally managed to leave behind those two kids. His heart can’t help but leap in joy. As expected, those wimpy kids are just kids. Think they’re better than me? They’re skills are still flimsy!
He went further into the restaurant and quickly approach the waiter that day to settle the deal. He paid the half of the agreed payment and went to the guestroom arranged for him on the upper floor. The stuff he requested was already on top of the table, Zi Li proceeded to open the bundle——everything is in order.
Clothes and shoes made from sackcloth, fake beard, artificial human mask, bamboo hat with veil, fake eyebrows, and there’s even a fake black mole with fake strand of hair on top!
Zi Li was very pleased in seeing the pile of theatrical props he will use as a disguise. Zi Li went down again and asked for several bottled medicines and sets of small and soft sacks that looks like deflated balloons. Zi Li’s heart was delighted as he picked it up and takes a closer look. Who would have thought that the people in this era could already manufacture something like this out of sheep intestines! What will Zi Li do with this sheep intestines encasing you ask? Very soon its practical use will be revealed. For Zi Li will use these things later on to secure his life from danger and its success rate will guarantee his survival from critical circumstances.
After his inspection, Zi Li put away the sheep intestine sacks. Afterwards, he opened a medicine ointment bottle and applied it on the claw scratches on the back of his hands from the last night that is still stinging with pain. Next, he quickly changes his clothes into the sackcloth clothes and shoes. Then he pour water from the teapot to the cup and squeezed an Ochre dye into it and stirs it until it was diluted evenly. He applied the diluted dye in his face, his neck, his hands and other places of his skin that was exposed. After the application dried, his originally fair white skin quickly turned into a rough and muddy yellow complexion. It made Zi Li looked like a commoner from the countryside exposed to the burning heat of sun for working in the fields for a long time. Then he took out a sticky paste and applied around his lips and pasted the beard. He now look a lot like an old farmer.
I guess I really have a talent with make up! Zi Li was pleased to see the results of his work in the mirror.
Zi Li originally intended to disguise himself as a servant with the artificial mask, but won’t an expert in disguises sees through his lousy trick easily and unmasked him if he run into one? And besides, his current look now ended up much better looking compared to that low quality artificial mask.
After putting everything in order, he stood in front of the door and took a deep breath. He then pushed the door open and took his first step excited yet nervous——
Bonbon wanted to say:
Hehe Zi Li fooled some of you guys as well together with the two little demons ? Though tailor31415 may have seen through our crafty MC~
With that, the escape arc begins! No spoilers for those who peeks at the raw~
