Chapter 3, A Change of Appearance

Lan Dan took out a small cloth bag from the corner of the thatched house. She had no luggage. After her second sister's visit, she put away the offerings her sister had given her, which could be considered her only possession

"Thank you, anyway." She felt that she should at least express her gratitude; this was the only sentence she had spoken in the past few days

The old man held a candle and carefully examined Lan Dan's face, occasionally prodding a certain acupoint on her face with a dull silver hairpin, asking her if it hurt.

Four robust guards and an ornate carriage seemed to have descended from the heavens, silently waiting outside the house, with no indication of when they had arrived

Lan Dan shook her head

"Third Brother, Ninth Brother." She choked up for a moment, having remained silent for so many days. She feared that if she did not speak now, she would never have the chance again. "Whether you hate me or resent me, may the spirits below guide me to fulfill my wishes, at the very least... to move you to a proper grave, to rest in peace." She owed them too much, and this was all she could offer as compensation, uncertain if she could even achieve it.

She indeed counts as a reincarnated person, yet she does not even have the qualification to drink the Meng Po soup. There are many things she wishes to forget, and in these days, they have become increasingly inescapable.

When I opened the door to come out, my hair was still wet, and as the cold wind blew, it instantly became adorned with some frost.

This disjointed statement, Lan Dan clearly understood, as her right hand suddenly gripped the handrail inside the carriage, the veins prominently visible. She had long been worried that the couple would be silenced, and although the guards had left with the carriage, she felt a slight sense of relief, yet unexpectedly, they could not escape their fate.

Lan Dan walked straight to a grave, placing down a cloth bag containing long-dried, coarse snacks.

We are the gravekeepers here. Recently, there have been matters at home, and the pavilion chief has asked us to return and take care of things first. The gravekeeper said respectfully, his eyes slightly flickering.

No wonder those soldiers who delivered the corpses did not pay her any attention; it was not only because she had changed her appearance and attire, but also because the woman she was disguised as had long existed, and it was only natural.

"You all ... ..." Lan Dan expressed her confusion

"He will come to take you away tonight," the old man said, and there was a hint of a sigh in his tone.

It turns out that to accomplish a task, one must be this meticulous and leave no detail overlooked

Lan Dan did not say much, and her somewhat awkward movement to get into the car was hindered by her inflexible left leg and left hand, which the guards, well-trained, chose to ignore.

The soft and warm sunlight of an autumn afternoon streamed through the window panes of the small hall, and Shen Tu Cheng stood in the shadow where the light intertwined into patterns, holding her hand. She looked up at him; his long, thick eyelashes were illuminated by the sunlight, turning golden, while the deep pupils of his eyes remained shrouded in the shadow of his lashes, profound and unfathomable.

Princess Danyang of the Moonlight Palace heard only the first half of this sentence. The nameless fugitive from the mass grave, upon reflecting on this sentence, finally understood that what Shentu Cheng wanted to convey was only the last phrase: this is the only way.

The old man's attitude towards her has not changed in the slightest over these days; he still looks down on her and dislikes her. Lan Dan does not mind this; on the contrary, she finds it reassuring, as at least he is consistent in his demeanor, showing no pretense.

The replaced garments were neatly laid out on the bed, exquisite and vibrant, starkly contrasting with the surrounding roughness and filth. Lan Dan exerted considerable effort to get dressed; in the past, she was always attended by palace maids, and she never anticipated that such a lavish gown would have so many intricate details that were difficult to manage

The guard, who began with "Please," respectfully assisted her into the car, every movement adhering to decorum, unlike someone from an ordinary family

Although the old man did not undergo much disguise, who would pay attention to a gravekeeper of the lowest status? With similar attire and height, he went unnoticed. It was only because she was too familiar with the old man that she immediately noticed the difference

Lan Dan turned her head to take a closer look at the woman who was nervously busy preparing, dressed very similarly to her, or rather, it could be said that she had been imitating this woman's attire. The woman had her face wrapped in a dirty cloth strip, and it seemed that she indeed had some skin condition

Measurement, self-awareness, seem to have suddenly become crucial in her life

As the door opens, it is uncertain when the light snow begins to fall again. The eaves of the thatched house are adorned with a dimly flickering wind lamp, the only source of light amidst the surrounding chaos of graves. It is precisely this faint glimmer that renders the forsaken souls and wandering spirits abandoned here particularly desolate and sorrowful

The old man frowned and said with some dissatisfaction: "So be it, it will only take a bit more time to control my expressions"

You may go see him now said the old man wearily putting down the candlestick I can leave as well

It is only now that I can discern which of his statements are true and which are false

Lan Dan was indifferent; these days she felt lost and dazed, wrapped in layers of gauze, naturally wearing a blank expression all day long, and she did not notice anything amiss. After hearing the old man's words, she still tried to frown, and with great effort, she could only slightly furrow her brow, while her mouth could only move the corners slightly. She was not even curious about her current appearance, let alone whether she could make any expressions.

On the contrary, she was somewhat worried about him. He was only responsible for changing her appearance, and in the grand scheme of things, he was merely an outsider, just as she had been back then. ... She hoped ... that he could safely escape.

Lan Dan couldn't help but want to laugh upon hearing this, but she was unable to do so. The old man's words were as precise and fierce as his silver needles

While taking a shower, Lan Dan touched her own face, having just removed the gauze, yet she did not even know what kind of person she had become

She did not speak out for help, and even she herself could be the next victim; what ability does she have to reach out and save herself

Danyang, he raised his hand to touch her temple, "I like you so much that I want to be with you for a lifetime, this is the only way."

The master instructed, do not be anxious at all, act only after three days, and be sure to leave no traces.

Perhaps everything in the future is the true path illuminated by the flames of the underworld. She must endure and overcome these pains and hardships in order to reach the place she is meant to go

Lan Dan smiled gently, a mere faint smile that did not even lift the corners of her mouth, and shook her head. She understood that he was merely acting on someone else's behalf, and regardless of her own feelings, he could still remain loyal to the tasks entrusted to him, which earned her respect

She should be a bit smarter now

The old man fell silent for a moment and said coldly: "I hope that after this ordeal, when you are reborn as a human, you will be a bit wiser!"

old companion

The old man listened, curled his lip in displeasure, and said, "Don't be in such a hurry to thank me; I fear that in the future, there may come a time when you wish to grind my bones to dust."

She has gone through some experiences and gained some insights. The so-called conspiracies are all interconnected, far from being as simple as they appear. The emergence of the couple from hetushucom.com has brought her immense shock, comparable to her regicide plan

Until the carriage started, she sat upright and composed. This departure marks the beginning of her next life.

I will prepare hot water for the girl to take a bath with my partner now," the old man said, his tone ingratiating and humble

Indeed, only by being laid to rest can one find peace. Without being interred, she may face endless delays and suffering

Lan Dan understood and comprehended it

She is about to enter a new conspiracy, which has sparked a hint of curiosity within her regarding herself and the future. She strains to see the vague reflection in the water, but it is too dark to discern anything clearly. Even if she cannot see, she does not have a strong desire to look at her new face; it is merely another guise.

There is no goodwill in this world without reason. To take such great risks to save her, could it be that he would also take her to enjoy a life of luxury? She simply cannot understand what could possibly be worth such effort from this person.

Lan Dan nodded slightly and did not continue to inquire further. The couple visiting the grave was the outermost layer of the plan; what could they possibly know

When Lan Dan returned to the thatched cottage, there was an additional person inside. She was startled and looked inquiringly at the old man tending the fire at the stove, only to be horrified to discover that although his appearance and clothing were quite similar, he was not the old man who had cared for her while simultaneously expressing disdain for her.

In the stillness of the night, apart from the sounds of carriages and footsteps, there was nothing else, so she could hear even the faintest whisper clearly.