CHAPTER 186: CHAPTER 185: OVERCOME WITH FEAR

Fortunately, this silvery white color has become matte, otherwise, we really wouldn’t be able to take it out.

Yu Xiaolian began to concoct a reason, "This is a wig. On the way to the south, I picked it up at an inn. The innkeeper said the guests before us were a theater troupe, and it might belong to them. I thought it was quite fun, so I picked it up to play with it. I didn’t expect it would actually come in handy."

Miao Yingyao exclaimed, saying she knew what this was; it was made of horsehair.

Yu Xiaolian swiftly coiled Miao Yingyao’s hair up and secured it with a wig cap before placing the wig on Miao Yingyao’s head.

After the wig was in place, Yu Xiaolian scrutinized it closely, found it acceptable, and suggested Miao Yingyao use a disguise technique to see if there were any flaws.

Miao Yingyao shook her head; using the ear-transmitted snake disguise was extremely painful and had a very short duration—only one incense stick’s time. She didn’t want to endure such pain twice in a short time.

Miao Yingyao said she would do the disguise when the city gates opened at dawn the next day.

Madam Sun brought over Madam Sun’s elder clothes and shoes. Although the clothes were a bit oversized, they could be worn; however, the shoes were too large and didn’t fit.

Miao Yingyao herself was wearing satin embroidered shoes, which weren’t suitable for an elderly woman’s attire. In the end, Madam Sun gave her own black cloth shoes to Miao Yingyao, completing the outfit.

Madam Sun instructed Zhao Erya to prepare some food for Miao Yingyao and then called Yu Xiaolian into her room.

Yu Xiaolian felt apprehensive, fearing Madam Sun might scold her.

However, Madam Sun did not scold her; she was merely curious as to why Yu Xiaolian wanted to save this person.

She was also curious as to why the Princely Heir wanted to capture such a young girl.

Yu Xiaolian had no choice but to explain everything about Miao Yingyao to Madam Sun and Yu Changhe.

Madam Sun and Yu Changhe exchanged a worried glance, their concern evident on their faces.

Because they were well aware that their daughter also had Witch Clan blood, and Yu Xiaolian had mentioned before that she dreamt of being drained of blood and dying, which only made Madam Sun and Yu Changhe more worried.

If Yu Xiaolian’s relatives were ordinary people, Madam Sun would not fear Yu Xiaolian recognizing them. She worried that Yu Xiaolian’s Witch Clan identity would bring her great trouble.

Especially that strange bird with feathers, how could it be so sinister? A bird with a long nose that could sniff things out?

Madam Sun secretly vowed never to stop Little Tiger from playing slingshot and shooting birds again. Birds weren’t necessarily always good.

Not only would she not stop Little Tiger from shooting birds, but she would also encourage him to practice shooting with a slingshot often, so if he ever encountered that bird, he could just take it out with one shot.

Yet, Little Tiger’s slingshot wasn’t very sturdy, and its elasticity was poor.

No, she decided she would arrange for Little Tiger to have a new slingshot the next day.

Madam Sun and Yu Changhe’s attention quickly shifted from Miao Yingyao to the feathered bird. Hearing that Yu Xiaolian’s sachet hung on the eaves could disrupt the bird’s sense of smell, Madam Sun decided to prepare more the next day.

Then the shop should sell them too, not just sell them but sell them cheaply.

It would be best if everyone in Luocheng had one, so that when the feathered bird entered Luocheng, its sense of smell would fail and just malfunction.

The next morning, after changing into Madam Sun’s gray patched clothes, Miao Yingyao had a simple breakfast and then hid in her room.

Yu Xiaolian heard Miao Yingyao’s suppressed groans from inside the room, knowing this disguise technique must be excruciatingly painful.

About half a quarter of an hour later, Miao Yingyao came out of the room, looking aged, with sagging skin and tiny age spots at her temples.

Yu Xiaolian nodded, thinking she did look the part.

However, after Miao Yingyao took a few steps, Yu Xiaolian stopped her, "Bend over a bit, walk more slowly, your pace is a bit too brisk."

Miao Yingyao humbly accepted Yu Xiaolian’s suggestion, immediately bending over and assuming a shuffling posture.

Miao Yingyao asked, "Does this look okay?"

Yu Xiaolian handed her a relatively straight wooden stick, "Here, lean on this and take a few more steps so I can see."

With the support, Miao Yingyao imitated an elderly woman’s walking style more convincingly.

Yu Xiaolian tidied Miao Yingyao’s wig and handed her a bundle, "Inside here is some silver and food, as well as a letter. Please make sure to deliver this letter to Su Jingchen for me."

Miao Yingyao didn’t refuse, accepted the purse, and whispered to Yu Xiaolian, "When I return to the valley, the first thing I’ll do is take care of Xi Sijin and that feathered bird. I definitely won’t let it live peacefully to the end of its natural lifespan."

"You can trust me with the letter; I’ll definitely get it to him."

Yu Xiaolian patted Miao Yingyao, "Didn’t you say you could only maintain it for the duration of one incense stick? You should hurry up and go!"

Miao Yingyao solemnly thanked Yu Xiaolian and the other members of the Yu Family, then, using the stick as a cane, hobbled away.

To not draw attention, Yu Xiaolian did not see Miao Yingyao off but let her leave on her own.

After Miao Yingyao slowly walked some distance away, Yu Xiaolian then called Zhao Erya, took the bamboo basket, and followed her from afar.

Miao Yingyao paused at the city gate for a moment, then smoothly exited the city.

After passing through the city gate, Miao Yingyao turned back, looking at Yu Xiaolian from afar, before turning away to leave.

Yu Xiaolian and Zhao Erya, at the crossroads, made a turn towards the market. There weren’t many people in the market, and those who were there, in groups of three or five, were discussing military conscription.

They had just finished paying taxes, and now they were going to draft young men. The common people had a lot of complaints, extremely so.

Ding Wulang, who had just gotten married and hadn’t personally experienced conscription, asked, "Doesn’t the military not want people with disabilities? Then if we pretend to be blind, mute, or deaf, can they really forcefully draft us?"

"Tsk tsk..." An old man glanced at Ding Wulang, "If that worked, then what need would the court have for drafting soldiers? Wouldn’t your neighbors know if you are blind, mute, or deaf?"

Ding Wulang naively said, "Our family has a really good relationship with our neighbors; they probably wouldn’t betray me."

The old man rolled his eyes, "When others see you pretending to be blind, mute, and deaf to avoid military service, they’ll surely follow suit. Is it possible for every household in a village to have blind, mute, and deaf people? Do you think the government officers are fools?"

Ding Wulang felt embarrassed by the old man’s retort, flushing with anger, "It was my idea, why should they copy me?"

The old man was stubborn too, "What do you mean your idea? People have been doing that for ages.

Moreover, the government already has policies in place for this. If you’re caught faking blindness, muteness, or deafness to dodge the draft, your whole family will be exiled."

After yelling, the old man’s eyes flickered.

"Ah?" Ding Wulang was dumbfounded, "But I’m the only son in my family; wouldn’t the government have to catch me?"

He just turned sixteen, and hadn’t been married for long; he didn’t want to be conscripted.

Remembering how his father was taken by conscription officers ten years ago and never returned, Ding Wulang was filled with dread.

He had four older sisters, none of whom could replace him in military service.