Why Did the Zhang Family Try to Capture Wang Cang Hai?
After hearing Wan Bao’s report, Wang Cang Hai was slightly disappointed—it was nothing new, just the same intelligence that had already been passed on. Still, he pressed further.
“The Zhang family set up an ambush to capture me alive. Do you know why?”
Wan Bao replied, “I only overheard it this morning. The Zhang family discovered an extremely intricate and dangerous mechanism within the underwater tomb. Over a dozen expert tomb raiders have already perished trying to get through, yet they still haven’t managed to reach the tomb’s inner chamber. As a result, their search for Zhang Qi Ling’s whereabouts has come to a standstill.
“Zhang Pei Shan intends to ‘invite’ you—forcefully—to solve the tomb’s maze-like mechanisms. But since they don’t want to expose their presence here, they disguised themselves as assassins to ambush you.
“However, no one expected that you had anticipated their attack and used a diversion to escape from the Silver-Armored soldiers.”
Wang Cang Hai said, “Wu Ma Nan Sheng and Nangong Yu will soon discover that I’m not inside the carriage. They will likely turn back to search for me. You should put on my official robes and wait for them on the main road.”
Wan Bao’s eyes widened in shock. “My lord, you mean… you want me to impersonate you and return to the Silver-Armored soldiers? That’s absolutely impossible!”
Wang Cang Hai remained firm. “If my disappearance is reported to the court, Wu Ma Nan Sheng will be punished for negligence.
“Meanwhile, you cannot reveal yourself today, or else my disguise as you will be exposed. The simplest and most effective solution is for you to pretend to be me.
“Just return to my carriage and act as if nothing happened. My maidservant, Xia Xia, will assist you. She will guide you on how to speak and behave so that you don’t slip up. Wu Ma Nan Sheng and Nangong Yu have never seen my face. As long as the Wang family attendants all insist that you are Wang Cang Hai—then you are Wang Cang Hai.”
With that, Wang Cang Hai retrieved a silk handkerchief, a box of face powder, a small container of rouge, and a charcoal pencil.
He had Wan Bao sit down on the banyan tree’s root. First, he used the silk handkerchief to wipe Wan Bao’s damp face dry. Then, he applied jasmine-scented powder to whiten his complexion and neck. Taking up the charcoal pencil, he carefully darkened and shaped Wan Bao’s eyebrows.
Finally, Wang Cang Hai opened the rouge container and handed Wan Bao the lid, which had a small mirror.
“Use your finger to apply some rouge to your lips,” he instructed.
Wan Bao took one look at his reflection and nearly leapt in fright.
Where did this handsome man come from?!
His face was round like the full moon, his brows sharp like distant mountain peaks—handsome and striking, the very image of a refined nobleman. The only flaw was that his lips were slightly too pale, lacking a touch of vitality.
Wan Bao hesitantly dabbed his ring finger into the rouge and applied it to his lips.
Wang Cang Hai immediately shook his head. “Too red. Wipe off some of the rouge and blend it evenly with a clean finger.”
Wan Bao obediently followed his instructions, completing the transformation.
Wang Cang Hai handed him the cosmetic items. “Keep these with you. When you meet Xia Xia, let her touch up your makeup. I normally don’t wear makeup, so my skills in this area are limited. These belong to Xia Xia—I borrowed them from her.
“Once you return to the Wan household, make sure to buy a new set for her as thanks.”
Wan Bao nodded repeatedly.
After this makeover, his confidence in impersonating the famously handsome Wang Cang Hai shot up from zero to at least five out of ten.
Still, he hesitated. “My lord, you’re going into danger alone. Please take care of yourself… and return as soon as possible.”
Wang Cang Hai nodded. “I will. Now go.”
Wan Bao took a few steps toward the main road but suddenly remembered that he had left his wetsuit by the lake. He turned back to retrieve it—
Only to witness a sight that left him utterly stunned.
Wang Cang Hai had already leapt into the air, his movements as graceful as a swiftlet skimming the waves.
His toes barely grazed the lake’s surface as he soared forward, each step carrying him a full ten feet.
Only when he reached the pristine, deeper waters at the center of Qing Ze Lake did he finally dive, vanishing beneath the surface with barely a splash.
Wan Bao stood motionless beneath the banyan tree, completely dumbfounded.
It took him a long time to regain his senses.
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