Chapter 24: Impersonation
Jinsui saw that this group of soldiers had identified her as Li King, without any suspicion, and urgently needed her, the ‘Li King,’ to rescue someone.
She also made a decision instantly:
To impersonate Li King!
This way, those black-clothed men chasing Gu Changxiao would naturally not track them in the mountains upon hearing that Li King was going to find Jiang Nansheng, and Grandpa Ling and the others would be completely safe.
Secondly, she could openly investigate Father Ling’s case.
She believed Gu Changxiao wouldn’t blame her after hearing this; after all, she was risking her life to be his body double!
As long as Gu Changxiao had any brains, he would be immensely grateful to her.
Of course, unless Gu Changxiao was also Li King’s body double, if the real Li King were to blame her for impersonation, then she would just run!
Since transmigrating, she hadn’t learned any other skills, but her ability to escape had been honed to perfection.
Thinking this, Jinsui became even bolder, holding her head high and chest out, mimicking Gu Changxiao’s posture, and said to the soldiers:
“Explain in detail what happened? How dare Jiang Nansheng be so audacious as to detain this King’s people!”
After speaking, Jinsui felt her heart pounding like a drum, her gaze fixed straight ahead, but in reality, she was observing their reactions with her peripheral vision.
She, this Li King, knew nothing and didn’t even recognize Jiang Nansheng; would they still not suspect her?
Indeed, they did not suspect her.
Because Jiang Nansheng was merely a fifth-rank local garrison commander. In Chang’an, a fifth-rank official wouldn’t even have the standing to attend a Prince’s Residence banquet, but locally, he was a regional overlord.
Soon, Jinsui learned the whole story. Simply put, Jiang Nansheng had previously lacked even the standing to send gifts to the Eastern Palace.
He instead curried favor with Prince Yu, the second prince born to the current Empress. He was eager to show his loyalty to Prince Yu.
And these three hundred soldiers of the Black Feather Camp had received Li King’s order to escort Li King to Yandi at the border.
The Black Feather Camp soldiers passed by this area and were detained by Jiang Nansheng, who, on the grounds of border troops deserting their posts without authorization, intended to behead them as a public example.
The soldiers held Li King’s letter, but Jiang Nansheng did not acknowledge it and even tore it up in public.
These dozen or so people had fought their way out with all their might. Their mission now was not only to escort Li King but also to rescue their comrades.
Jinsui, combining Gu Changxiao being chased and nearly losing his life several times, quickly deduced the entire truth.
It must be that Prince Yu and the Empress sent people from Chang’an to pursue him, and then had Jiang Nansheng intercept the reinforcements here, leaving Gu Changxiao completely isolated and without aid.
She pondered for a moment, signaling the stern-faced young leader to step forward, and whispered to him:
“What is your name?”
He quickly saluted and said, “Your subordinate Han Xing, serving as a Seventh Rank Captain of the Black Feather Camp.”
Jinsui signaled him to move away from the others, and the two quietly walked aside. She said with a grave expression:
“I believe Captain Han has noticed that when this King left Chang’an, I was drugged and my martial arts were crippled.”
“This King’s attendants and bodyguards all died at the hands of the enemy while protecting this King along the way.”
“The journey ahead is still very dangerous; you must be mentally prepared.”
To Han Xing, this sounded like Li King was worried they might defect. Now Li King was alone, and his opponents were the powerful Empress and Prince Yu.
Even a nobody like Jiang Nansheng dared to humiliate Li King like this, so Li King was naturally disheartened with the local officials here.
Han Xing quickly knelt on one knee and said, “Your subordinate Han Xing swears to die in loyalty to Li King!”
Jinsui quickly helped him up, “Speak properly, don’t kneel down so readily. This King means that I need a loyal and highly skilled bodyguard to protect me personally.”
Seeing Han Xing’s eyes light up, she quickly added, “You are not suitable; rescuing the Black Feather Camp requires you to lead the charge.”
Han Xing glanced at the dozen or so people, then his gaze fell on a tall, burly man. He beckoned,
“Hei Hu, come here.”
The tall man had a leopard-like head and piercing eyes, with a ruddy, dark complexion. Judging by his appearance, one could believe he was thirty, but his movements carried the grace of a youth.
Even Jinsui, who was usually good at judging people, couldn’t discern his age. He quickly stepped forward, first scratching the back of his head with a simple, honest gesture, as if he had just realized something, and then clumsily cupped his fist in a salute.
A huge question mark flashed through Jinsui’s mind. This guy looked like an ‘Aragorn’ going to battle. Captain Han, are you sure he can be my bodyguard?
Han Xing sensed Li King’s doubt and quickly said,
“Hei Hu is absolutely loyal, taciturn, and obedient to commands. His martial arts are excellent, and his archery is a hundred paces accurate.”
Well, in other words, he’s skilled and obedient, but a bit slow-witted.
Indeed, Jinsui needed exactly this kind of personal bodyguard. If it were someone smart, she would be afraid they might see through her true identity!
Jinsui smiled at Hei Hu, “Good, from now on, you will be this King’s personal bodyguard. How old are you?”
Hei Hu grinned, “Reporting to Your Highness, I will be eighteen next month.”
Seeing Jinsui’s eyes full of surprise, he added, “I am not yet married.”
Jinsui: …
Who asked if you were married! Do you think I, your superior, am responsible for finding wives?
At eighteen, looking like this, it would indeed be difficult to find a wife.
All the information that could be gathered had been gathered. Then Jinsui discovered the most important problem: she didn’t know Li King’s real name!
Gu Changxiao was clearly a pseudonym. The Abandoned Crown Prince’s mother was surnamed Gu, and of course, the current stepmother was also surnamed Gu, which was why he had temporarily chosen such a pseudonym!
But she knew the Emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty was surnamed Jun. Once she reached Yandi, she could find Li King’s personal seal and would eventually know his real name.
She couldn’t possibly ask Han Xing now, “Do you know what this King’s name is?”
Even if Han Xing were stupid, he would immediately become suspicious.
“Let’s go, we’re going to find Jiang Nansheng!”
Hei Hu quickly went to fetch a horse, but Jinsui dared not ride alone. She used the excuse of an unhealed foot injury and rode with Han Xing.
She secretly resolved that if she successfully reached Yandi at the border, she must learn to ride a horse and learn archery.
Exiting the valley, faint wisps of cooking smoke could be seen in the distance, indicating they were closer to a village or town.
Han Xing said, “Your Highness, should we avoid the common folk?”
Jinsui’s eyes flickered, and she said loudly:
“No need! Not only do we not need to avoid them, but we must make a grand display so that all the common folk know that Li King was pursued by villains on his way to Yandi and that Jiang Nansheng detained his personal troops.”
Li King was exiled alone, so the Black Feather Camp in Yandi could naturally be considered his personal troops.
Her intention was naturally to let the black-clothed men searching in the mountains hear this, so they would continue their pursuit, and Grandpa Ling and the others would be safe.
She said to Han Xing, “Have someone go to the village to buy a gong and beat it as we walk. This King will personally go to meet Jiang Nansheng!”
Soon, Hei Hu returned with a gong. His strength was immense; one strike made people’s ears ache.
Yet, this simpleton earnestly asked, “Your Highness, should I strike it every few breaths?”
Jinsui casually replied, “Ten breaths.”
Then she heard him silently counting his own breaths: “One breath, two breaths…”
Han Xing quickly shouted, “Count in your heart.”
Hei Hu said ‘oh’ and indeed struck the gong loudly every ten breaths, shouting at the top of his lungs:
“Li King is passing through, all idlers, make way.”
Admittedly, there was no one on the road, but hearing the gong sound, the common folk still closed their doors and windows to hide. In those times, for the common folk,
bandits pass like a comb, soldiers pass like a sieve; the common folk greatly feared soldiers.
Jinsui looked back at the Xiaohan Mountain Range, praying that Grandpa Ling and the others could escape safely, hoping there were many informants among the bandits outside the mountains.
Upon hearing Hei Hu’s shouts, those black-clothed constables could immediately abandon their search of the mountain.
