Your Majesty, Please Stop!

Chapter 55: The Thief King Xin Zhuo Enters the Capital City

October 15th.

For the other regions of the 18 provinces of Da Zhou, this day was ordinary and uneventful. However, for Fu Feng Prefecture, it was a special day.

"The Mulan Festival."

This was a special festival in the borderlands. It was said that three hundred years ago, a plague swept through the surrounding prefectures, leaving ten out of every nine households empty. Later, a fairy from the Hidden Immortal Gate descended and used Qinglan grass to cleanse the plague. Since then, every year on this day, the people of the surrounding prefectures would hold grand celebrations.

Although the army of Da Zhou was currently engaged in fierce battles with the rebels fifty miles outside the city, Governor Su and the heads of the major families in the city had all gone to reward the soldiers.

Two hundred miles to the west of the city, in the Fulong Mountains, four experts from the four major families were chasing after the bandit leader Xin Da Wang. The outcome was unknown.

But what did these matters have to do with the common people in the city? They had full confidence in both the army of Da Zhou and the experts from the four major families.

As the lanterns were lit, the streets and alleys were filled with colorful lanterns, competing for brilliance.

Small shops casually hung a few lanterns to celebrate, while the wealthy families, famous establishments, and large households displayed fiery dragon lanterns and performed elegant dances. However, the most dazzling place was still the banks of the Canglan River, where lanterns of various shapes adorned the pavilions and flower towers. There were also beautiful women with exposed shoulders and fair skin, even more charming than the lanterns.

The people of the city finished their dinner early and went out on the streets with their friends and families.

The young ladies and wives of wealthy families dressed up beautifully and gathered in groups of three or five. The young masters, with their powdered faces and exquisite clothing, walked in pairs.

"The boss, today is the perfect day. The streets are filled with people, making it the ideal time to take hostages!"

"Is there any flaw in the plan? We can't afford to make any mistakes this time, or else it would be no different from walking into a trap."

In the bustling crowd to the west of the city, two figures walked side by side, their voices barely audible.

It was indeed Xin Zhuo and Murong Xiu.

Murong Xiu wore tattered linen clothes, his hair casually tied up, and his face dirty.

Xin Zhuo wore a moon-white brocade robe, white cloud boots, his hair styled in a crown, lightly applied makeup, and lightly drawn eyebrows.

Their appearances had basically been swapped.

After deciding to take advantage of Chen Guiyan and Murong Lei's weaknesses, they immediately arranged for Cui Ying'er and the others to hide in a complex cave. Even if the other party attacked Tiger Mountain Fortress, it wouldn't matter in the short term. Then, without stopping for a moment, they would ride the horses they had snatched from Tiger Mountain Fortress and rush over, taking a full day and night.

Of course, Xin Zhuo couldn't ride a horse, but the horses were all well-trained old horses that wouldn't kick. Coupled with his exceptional Qinggong, he would become familiar with riding after running ten or twenty miles.

"No!"

Murong Xiu leaned closer. "There's a war going on outside the city. Governor Su and the heads of the major families have all gone to reward the soldiers. The city is holding a festival, and hundreds of thousands of people are flooding the streets. It's too chaotic.

Moreover, no one would ever think that the bandits who were being chased by the experts from the four major families would dare to run into the city so openly.

Even if they discover it, our planned escape route is safe and reliable. Don't worry, boss. I grew up in the city."

Xin Zhuo nodded. "One last confirmation. You go and kidnap Chen Guiyan's illegitimate child and buy some muscle and bone healing medicine. I'll take care of Murong Lei's beloved mistress."

That's right! Chen Guiyan, the notorious bandit leader, fell in love with a poor scholar when she was sixteen. They had a melodramatic love story between a wealthy young lady and a poor scholar that cannot be described. Then, due to the huge difference in their family backgrounds and opposition from their families, the two of them eloped secretly. A year later, Chen Guiyan gave birth to a son, but the scholar died of illness. Chen Guiyan returned with her son, fearing that her family would find out, and secretly sent the child to be fostered by another family. Now, they could just go with the flow.

Murong Lei, on the other hand, was deeply in love with Xiao Lihua, the courtesan from the "Zuixin Building" by the Canglan River. In order to prevent his family from finding out, he spent a large sum of money to redeem her, but she still remained in the Zuixin Building, performing but not selling herself.

These were the weaknesses of the two.

Murong Xiu said, "That's right! I can't go to the Zuixin Building. I know too many people there, and there's a chance of being discovered. But it's different for you, boss. Even the constables have only observed you from a distance. Now that you've changed your appearance, they probably won't recognize you at first glance. Anyway, we'll make our move and then run away. It'll be safe and sound!"

Xin Zhuo carefully pondered it again and found that it was indeed reliable. So he put his mind at ease and carefully observed this "ancient" city.

Without exaggeration, after staying here for so long in the mountains, it was the first time he saw a human city. The antiquity, the style, and the number of people were truly beyond what could be depicted in a TV drama. Everything felt fresh and new.

However, many people around him occasionally glanced at him with strange looks, even Murong Xiu looked at him a few times.

He couldn't help but touch his face and pat his body, saying, "Is there something wrong with me?"

Murong Xiu grinned and said, "Boss, after we dressed you up, did you not look in the mirror?"

"In a bandit's den, where would there be a mirror? Is Sun Wu someone who looks in the mirror?" Xin Zhuo smiled slightly at the several girls in front of him and raised his eyebrows.

"Ah..."

The faces of the girls turned red in an instant. They let out a shy cry, covered their faces, and ran away while looking back through the gaps between their fingers.

Murong Xiu laughed ambiguously and said, "Boss, let's part ways here. Just so you know, half an hour later, meet at the dog hole by the northwest city wall. Don't let the women hold you back."

After saying that, he merged into the crowd and disappeared in the blink of an eye.

Xin Zhuo took out the map of the city drawn by Murong Xiu from his bosom and glanced at it, then headed towards the direction of Zuixin Tower.

...

"Miss, come quickly, come quickly! It's so lively here, someone is performing magic tricks."

On Fuchun Street, in the crowd, the maid Dong Ling was wearing a tight-fitting dress, holding a sugar calabash, and running with great joy.

Behind her, surrounded by a group of maids and guards, Su Miaojin, dressed in a white ruqun and a cloud bun, had a graceful figure. With a jade pendant hanging from her waist, lightly applied makeup, every expression and smile was pleasing to the eye.

"Slow down a bit."

She gently spoke, her voice as melodious as a lark's chirping, pleasant to the ear.

"I have seen Miss Su!"

The commoners strolling around couldn't help but cast admiring and respectful glances, regardless of whether Miss Su had been captured by bandits or not, it had nothing to do with them.

Even if this beautiful jade had a little stain, how many people could afford to buy it?

"No need for formalities, everyone can do as they please."

Su Miaojin nodded slightly, showing her grace and courtesy, impeccable.

Not far behind her, Jiang Hezhu and other young masters were leaning against each other. On this cold day, they lightly waved their folding fans, their gazes never leaving Su Miaojin.

"Beautiful, truly beautiful!"

The chubby young master shook his head with regret, "I have never seen such a perfect girl. Even the most famous courtesans in various prefectures and capitals can't compare. It's a pity..."

A thin young master smirked, "Actually, whether it's self-deception or not doesn't matter. Just appreciating her beauty is a wonderful thing. Moreover, her father is the prince of that county. Once you establish a connection, who's to say you won't rise to great heights in the future?"

Jiang Hezhu sighed, "Only the Jiang family can be casually discarded. They truly deserve to be the Thousand Year Clan, the first choice for marrying into the royal family!"

"Everyone, keep quiet!"

A tall young master suddenly turned serious, "Are these two families something we small families on the border can privately discuss? If any of the fierce Southern Li Han soldiers or the Jiang family's Iron Floating Guards pass by, none of us will survive."

The young masters' faces couldn't help but turn pale, and they obediently fell silent.

(End of this chapter)