CHAPTER 165: CHAPTER 165: EVEN IF SHE GOES, WHAT HELP CAN SHE BE?

Pei Shu’er painted two human skin masks in succession. By the time she finished, Xuan Liu was surprised.

"Miss, Yinxing now looks exactly like you."

Pei Shu’er didn’t speak; she continued painting the second mask just in case one got damaged, then the other could be used.

Once she finished, she addressed Yinxing.

"Yinxing, from now on, you have to disguise as me for a period each day. You don’t need to eat with everyone during meal times, just bring the food to my room and eat there."

"Every day, stand at a distance and watch as everyone builds the walls. Show your face and then return to my room or go to the lab, or the medicine room, and stay in there all day. Remember, other than in my room, you must not take off the mask anywhere else."

"If anything happens, consult more with Lin Yu and Zhang Chao. Try not to reveal my identity unless absolutely necessary."

"Be sure to wait for my return. If something occurs, delay it as much as possible. If you can’t delay it, leave it to someone capable to handle."

"Ask for my mother’s advice often. If there’s no other way, then go find Old Madam Tang."

Pei Shu’er was well aware that Old Madam Tang was decisive. In these circumstances, only she could stabilize the situation.

Pei Shu’er spoke in great detail, leaving Yinxing with red-rimmed eyes, looking wronged.

"Young Madam, where are you going?"

Pei Shu’er smiled wryly, "You know too much; it’s not good for you. Actually, most of the time, ignorance is bliss."

She was so gentle that it made Yinxing shed tears.

With that said, Pei Shu’er chose the most docile horse in the yard and mounted it.

Seeing this, Xuan Liu quickly asked, "Young Madam, where are you going?"

Might this be the young madam knowing that the master might fall, so she wants to escape?

This seems like the kind of thing that Pei Shu’er from the Minister’s Mansion would do.

Recently, her compliance must be because nothing life-threatening has occurred.

With this thought, he became even more anxious.

The master did say Pei Shu’er could go elsewhere, but not now.

If the young madam leaves now, the master’s plan might get exposed.

At that time, countless brothers might die.

He couldn’t help but feel resentment towards Pei Shu’er, thinking that she had changed before.

Now faced with such an important matter, she has shown her true colors again!

Pei Shu’er looked down at Xuan Liu, her tone firm.

"I am going to save Tang Zan and the War King."

The moment these words left her mouth, Xuan Liu’s eyes widened.

This... how is this possible!

How could Pei Shu’er go?

What would she use?

Even if she went, how could she help?

Xuan Liu asked again, "You’re going alone?"

Pei Shu’er looked at Xuan Liu, "Yes."

Now Xuan Liu felt overwhelmed. The young madam had some skills.

But her skills were still just limited; against true masters, they wouldn’t count for much.

Xuan Liu said, "Young Madam, you wouldn’t be able to help."

He forced a bitter smile, "Not even mountain folks could help."

Pei Shu’er gave no answer, just smiled and flicked her whip; the horse ran towards the outside.

As a result, Xuan Liu immediately gave chase.

He also rode a horse. While chasing, he earnestly tried to persuade Pei Shu’er.

"Heir’s wife, go back. The Deserted Mountain needs you, and the third house’s arrangement will depend on you."

Pei Shu’er said, "There’s Old Madam Tang."

She was extraordinarily clear-headed, already having considered these stakes thoroughly.

The Tang Family was truly bound together. If things are exposed, the Tang Family won’t just face exile.

There’s a chance they might be implicated, forcibly recruited, or even executed.

Thus, Old Madam Tang and the second, third, and fourth households must unite.

As for the big house, it’s already unacknowledged by the Tang Family.

The people of the Tang Family are smart; she’s not the only wise person under heaven.

She’s merely taking advantage of modern knowledge and standing on the shoulders of giants.

The truly experienced and knowledgeable ones are people like Old Madam Tang.

This world wouldn’t stop turning without her.

However, without Tang Zan, she might really die.

Seeing that reasoning with Pei Shu’er was futile, Xuan Liu had no choice but to accompany her.

Otherwise, if something happened to the young madam, the master would surely skin him alive upon return.

Say nothing of the fact that the master painstakingly prepared an identity for Pei Shu’er, proving the master’s care.

Even though the master never spoke of it, and didn’t show much affection towards the young madam.

But following the master for years, it was the first time he saw him consider this much for a woman.

Seeing Xuan Liu following, Pei Shu’er felt not an ounce of joy, instead a bit annoyed.

If she were alone, she could take out the car in deserted places. As long as she had gasoline, the car wouldn’t tire like the horse.

When reaching populated areas, she could take out the horse stored in her space and ride it.

In this ancient era, it was truly vast and sparsely populated, unlike the crowded buildings of a thousand residents in later times.

She wouldn’t worry about being seen.

Now that Xuan Liu followed her, she had to ride the horse and wait for a chance to shake him off.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t reach the Capital.

Both horses galloped quickly. Xuan Liu, being an experienced rider, soon caught up to Pei Shu’er. After many fruitless attempts to persuade her, he could only sigh.

"Young Madam, I’ll accompany you."

Unable to convince Xuan Liu, Pei Shu’er had to nod.

"Alright."

At worst, she’d find a chance to shake him off en route.

They soon reached the Snow Mountain, fortunately during summer, so there was no snow, making the roads much easier to traverse.

That night, they crossed the Snow Mountain, quickly traversing an icy river.

By nightfall, they passed through the bandits’ lair.

Pei Shu’er discovered that a new group of bandits had gathered here, possibly formed by the escapees from before.

She quickly thought of the third master, Tao Mingxuan, the capable and intelligent third-place scholar, who might have returned here.

But now, she had Xuan Liu by her side, and Xuan Liu was a skilled fighter, trained from childhood to protect his master and kill.

And these bandits weren’t as skilled as the previous batch.

With Pei Shu’er’s cooperation, the two of them quickly defeated over a dozen bandits.

They passed through many villages along the way, different from the sparsely populated exile routes, they took the most direct paths.

Along the way, they witnessed various local customs.

Only then did Pei Shu’er realize how barren the place was and that refugees had already gathered along the routes.

Everyone was skinny and sallow, staying at temporary shelters outside the city gates.

Yet, they couldn’t enter through the city gates.