He absolutely wouldn't have recognized Feng Jin if they'd met on the street. She looked completely transformed, like a different person.
"Shallow... utterly shallow!"
Feng Jin glared at Ling Mohan. "What do you know about disguise? If you're going to disguise yourself, you should change into someone recognizable. If even you can't recognize yourself, that's the mark of a truly successful disguise."
If people could recognize her at a glance, it would have been a waste of effort. What would be the point of disguising herself then?
"But you didn't have to make yourself look like this." Ling Mohan still found it hard to look at Feng Jin's current appearance. The contrast with her original face was too stark; he found it difficult to accept.
"Judging people by their appearance, how shallow."
How had she never noticed Ling Mohan was someone who only looked at the surface before? Truly shallow.
"Alright, let's not dwell on these things. We need to leave quickly."
If they dallied any longer and lost time, lives would genuinely be at stake.
Thanks to Feng Jin's disguise, they easily left the post station without arousing any suspicion.
Even the informants specifically arranged by Madam Sun took them for ordinary servants, not suspecting a thing.
After exiting the post station, Lu Shi brought out the carriage he had arranged in advance. The three of them headed to where Cui'er and the others were being housed.
"Madam, this manor is remote and has been abandoned for a long time. No one will know about this place. I've temporarily housed Cui'er and the other two here."
The manor was indeed very secluded, situated behind a large mountain forest. It was in disrepair, dilapidated, and clearly an abandoned estate.
"Who's there!"
As they neared the manor, a sharp shout blocked their path.
Lu Shi, who was driving the carriage, directly tore off his facial disguise, revealing his true face. "The Young General and the Madam are here. Open the gates quickly."
"Yes!"
The soldiers blocking the road, upon recognizing Lu Shi, quickly made way for the carriage.
After the carriage stopped, Ling Mohan and Feng Jin, both in disguise, emerged.
The soldiers nearby were all startled upon seeing them, their mouths agape in surprise.
"Where are the people?" Ling Mohan asked coldly.
Upon hearing the familiar voice, the soldiers finally confirmed that the unfamiliar man before them was Ling Mohan and quickly replied, "Reporting to the Young General, they are in the rear rooms. I will lead you there."
Inside the rooms, Cui'er and the other two, who were in a state of suspended animation, lay on the beds like living dead, utterly still.
Feng Jin quickly stepped forward, took out an antidote from her怀, and placed it in their mouths. She then used silver needles to stimulate their acupoints.
"Cough... cough..." Cui'er suddenly coughed violently, gasping for air. The suffocating sensation in her chest began to ease considerably.
Yan'er and Liuli, who had also taken the suspended animation medicine, also woke up. Due to the short period of suspended animation, they felt weak all over, their breathing even shallow.
"In a state of suspended animation, the body's organs temporarily go dormant. It's inevitable to feel extremely uncomfortable upon waking. It will improve after resting for a while."
Cui'er looked at the somewhat丑陋 middle-aged woman before her. However, the voice was incredibly pleasant and very familiar. She asked hesitantly, "Ma... Madam?"
"What is it?" Feng Jin responded, asking.
"Madam, is it really you? How did you become like this?" Cui'er exclaimed in surprise. How could she have changed so drastically in such a short time?
"It's the art of disguise. I've altered my appearance and figure for convenience when going out," Feng Jin explained, then continued to inquire, "Are you feeling better now?"
"Much better."
When she first woke up, she felt as if her whole body had been crushed and reassembled. Even breathing hurt.
Taking the suspended animation medicine had felt like dying. Now, waking up again was like being reborn. From today onwards, her life would start anew.
"Madam Sun personally witnessed the cremation of your three bodies and is certain you are all dead. From now on, find a place, change your names, and live normal lives."
"Thank you, Madam."
Cui'er and the other two quickly got up and kowtowed deeply to Feng Jin three times.
Such a grand display left Feng Jin flustered. "What are you doing? Get up quickly."
Forcing her to accept three kowtows – would that affect her good fortune in the future?
If it really did, then she would be at a significant loss.
"Madam's kindness is like a second life to us. We may never be able to repay such immense gratitude in this lifetime. If there is a next life, we wish to be your oxen and horses, at your service."
In this life, she had no opportunity to repay Feng Jin's kindness, only in the next.
"As long as you live well, that will be repaying my kindness."
Feng Jin couldn't stand this kind of talk about repaying favors. She reached out and helped Cui'er up. "Live well, and don't let my hard work in saving you go to waste."
With that, Feng Jin took a bundle and handed it to Cui'er. "There are a few sets of clothes in here, as well as some silver. It should be enough for the three of you to live on for a while. However, how your future unfolds depends on your own choices."
"Someone will take you to a town in the countryside shortly. I've bought you residences there for you to settle in for now."
"Thank you, Madam," the three said in unison.
"It's getting late, you should go."
Yan'er and Liuli exchanged glances, not expecting Feng Jin to let them go so easily, let alone arrange residences for them. This was entirely unexpected.
"Come with me," Lu Shi said, stepping forward and leading them away.
As they reached the doorway, Cui'er stopped, turned back to look at Feng Jin, and said, "Madam, I have something I wish to discuss with you privately."
Suddenly being singled out, Feng Jin didn't react immediately. After a moment of hesitation, she nodded in agreement. "You all go out for a moment."
Once everyone else had left, Feng Jin looked at Cui'er. "Everyone is gone. What did you want to tell me?"
After a moment of silence, Cui'er slowly raised her head. Her bright eyes were filled with a determined expression. She suddenly knelt before Feng Jin.
"Speak properly, don't kneel so easily!"
She was going mad from the custom of kneeling at the slightest provocation in ancient times. Didn't they know that their knees were golden? They should only kneel to heaven, earth, and their parents. Why did they feel the need to kneel to everyone they met?
"Madam, please allow me to speak while kneeling. It will make me feel better."
Seeing her resolute attitude, Feng Jin couldn't insist further. "Then speak."
"Madam, when I said before that I didn't know who else were spies, I lied to you. I was worried that if you knew our identities, you would kill me."