Indulging in Carnal Desire
chapter-232

As long as Chu Jiao gave her gleaming approval, changing identities could be easily carried out.

In the next moments, Bi Luo changed into the complicated yet exquisite cloud muslin ruqun. Chu Jiao personally placed the dazzling red ruby on the neat hair bun that Hong Xiu had combed out and arranged carefully.

“Look,” Chu Jiao placed her hands on Bi Luo’s shoulders, nearing her lips to her ears and saying in an enticing tone, “After magnificently dressing you up, our Bi Luo doesn’t look bad at all.”

Yeah…

Bi Luo stared at her blurred yet sumptuous reflection in the mirror as well as the princess, who was dressed in shabby clothing, looking nothing but plain and simple, and immediately felt that her looks didn’t fall behind anyone.

Restraining her ultimately proud and vain heart, she feigned apprehension, saying, “Princess is the one who’s born beautiful. Bi Luo is merely mimicking your idiosyncrasies but making a fool of herself.”

At this moment, Chu Jiao was wearing a waist-cinched ruqun, something of which slave girls normally wore. Her dark long hair was fixed with an ebony hairpin, and her fair little face was unpowdered, yet her beauty was hard to conceal, “That’s enough. If I say you’re pretty, then you are pretty,” At this moment, Chu Jiao enjoyed acting out of the original owner’s self-centered character, impatiently exchanging pleasantries with her, “Before we set off for our journey, you must stay inside the room, and Hong Xiu will bring your meals for you!”

“…..Understood.” Bi Luo could only respond in compliance.

“Princess!” Seeing Chu Jiao about to leave her and go out herself, Hong Xiu loudly stomped her feet, worried for her safety.

“Don’t worry. I’m going to be fine,” Chu Jiao had always been followed closely throughout the entire journey, and it was rare for her to finally have some alone time, so naturally, she wouldn’t readily give it up, reminding the anxious servant, “Hong Xiu, you are now the ‘princess’s’ personal servant. Don’t you run off!”

Hong Xiu wanted to retort something but was swiftly pulled back by Bi Luo, “Hong Xiu, have you forgotten what Her Imperial Consort has tasked us with before leaving the palace?”

“N-No,” Her Imperial Consort had instructed them to ‘always obey the princess’s words and protect the princess from harm,’ “But it isn’t safe for princess to be alone!”

“Bengong is only going to take a stroll around the relay station. In broad daylight, there’s only our own people here, so what could ever happen,” Chu Jiao nonchalantly waved her hand, “Moreover, I’m not the princess right now. Hong Xiu, you should call me ‘Ah Jiao’.”

“As you command… Ah Jiao.” Hong Xiu pouted miserably, following her orders.

Many people had already seen Bi Luo’s appearance during this trip, so she could only hide her face and pretend to be Chu Jiao. On the other hand, however, Chu Jiao couldn’t change her face to act as her.

Since there were still a couple of servant girls travelling with them, Chu Jiao simply transformed into one of the second-rank maids promoted by the ‘princess.’ As for ‘Bi Luo,’ they found an believable excuse to what happened to her, saying that she was kidnapped by last night’s bandits.

Bi Luo ardently hoped that she could take over Chu Jiao’s place forever but was completely oblivious to the fact that Chu Jiao had already taken the first step to wipe her existence in everyone’s heart.

※

“Your Royal Highness.”

Bi Luo was currently inside the room playing with all kinds of expensive jewelry Chu Jiao had in her trousseau, whereas Hong Xiu was at the side, glaring at her with eyes like daggers. However, she couldn’t care less and continued listening to Zhe Qie’s report, coughing twice to clear her throat before lowering her voice and asking, “What is it?”

Zhe Qie felt as if the princess’s voice was slightly strange. It didn’t sound as pleasant as before, but he didn’t think too much of it, “My king is about to arrive at the relay station to fetch you. Please prepare in a moment as we are about to leave.”

What!?

Bi Luo’s eyes abruptly widened as she raised her head to exchange an alert look with Hong Xiu, their eyes brimming with panic.

Bi Luo originally thought they would have to reach the territory of Xianbei before they would meet the Khan and didn’t think that he would suddenly come over to welcome them! What were they going to do? She hadn’t even taken care of the others yet. If she were to be discovered as an imposter, she would certainly die a wretched death!

No! She wouldn’t be found!

Bi Luo internally comforted herself. Before they get married, customs call for the husband and wife to not meet. She would also strictly follow Great Chu’s custom of covering her head with a red veil, so she definitely wouldn’t be found out.

“I understand. You can leave first!” Bi Luo raised her voice.

Hong Xiu desperately wanted to go out and find the princess so that they could change back into their rightful identities, but Bi Luo held her back, “Didn’t you hear him!? He said the Khan will be arriving soon! If you go out right now and can’t find the princess, what am I going to do? As the ‘princess,’ would it make sense if I didn’t have a maid by my side!? By then, if we’re discovered, both our heads will be cut off!”

Hearing this, Hong Xiu was frightened to death. As such, she could only follow along Bi Luo’s manipulative words, putting on the official ceremonial robe for Bi Luo and using a red veil to cover her face.

On the other side of this story, Hu Luoyan led the escort cavalry and finally arrived at the relay station.

A grandiose number of three thousand soldiers stopped on the fields outside the relay station with Hu Luoyan standing at the forefront. His sharp face appeared deep and handsome under the blaring sun rays. At this moment, he had changed into a Hu attire ¹On the right with narrow sleeves and gold cuffs, solid boots, a gold and jade belt on his waist showed off his status and power, and a proud-looking leather raft on his head.

“My king!”

Zhe Qie led all the soldiers from the relay station and saluted Hu Luoyan with resolution. Hu Luoyan waved his hand in dismissal and asked, “That’s enough. Where’s the princess?”

If it wasn’t because he wanted to give the princess a little bit more face, Hu Luoyan wouldn’t have even bothered to carry out all these customary formalities and would have just simply brought the person back to the palace.

“The princess said that she was in the middle of preparing and would be coming out soon.”

Zhe Qie planned to go over and prompt her, but just as he turned around, he saw the dignified ‘princess’ walking out, supported by her maid.

Tuoba Hui silently stood behind Hu Luoyan and sized up Great Chu’s princess figure surreptitiously.

Tsk. How dull. He didn’t think his brother liked this type.

Perhaps, the person itself looked immensely beautiful? That would still be considered a match for his king brother.

Upon landing his gaze at the girl who was slowly walking towards him, the look on Hu Luoyan’s face, which was originally holding in his smile in wait, turned ominously dark.

He didn’t even pull down the completely covered veil on her face, and under everyone’s astonished gazes, he simply took two steps forward, gripping the ‘princess’s’ slender neck.

His gaze burned like a raging fire as he tilted his head to look at Hong Xiu, asking dangerously.

“Speak, where did your princess go!?”

[Completed]