You Were Sent to the Capital as a Hostage, Yet You Took the Throne as Emperor? - Chapter 18:

Chapter 18: This Is My Wife Who Just Had a Miscarriage!

Yun Rou’s elegant brows furrowed tightly as she looked at Wei Ran with worry in her eyes.

“The Black Armored Guards are searching for me. What should we do now?”

If the Black Armored Guards found her, she would undoubtedly die.

Wei Ran walked to the door and listened carefully. The voices were coming from the neighboring house.

“Search thoroughly. We must find the person.”

“Nothing inside the house.”

“Not in the firewood shed either.”

…

Wei Ran remained calm. “Miss Yun, I’ll need to trouble you. Take off your clothes, remove all your gold and silver jewelry, and pretend to be my wife who just had a miscarriage.”

“Pretend… to be your wife?”

Yun Rou was stunned for a moment, her cheeks flushing red. In her panic, she let out a soft cough.

Wei Ran urged her, “Don’t hesitate. There’s no time. We need to get through this search.”

He wanted to protect Yun Rou, so they couldn’t afford to let the Black Armored Guards find her.

Without giving her a chance to object, Wei Ran stepped forward and stuffed the fox fur cloak into the worn-out bedding.

Before leaving, he reminded her, “Do as I say. I’ll handle old man Zhang and his wife.”

Without giving Yun Rou a chance to refuse, Wei Ran pushed the door open and left.

Right then, he ran into old man Zhang and his wife who were just heading out.

“The Black Armored Guards are patrolling the streets.”

“Coming to search this early in the morning… did something happen in the city?”

Wei Ran kept a composed expression as he stepped forward and pulled the old couple inside, closing the door behind them.

“Young man, what are you doing?”

The couple looked puzzled and confused.

Wei Ran said something shocking that almost scared the old couple to death.

“I killed someone in the city last night. The Black Armored Guards outside are here for me.”

“If I’m recognized, you’ll be charged with sheltering a criminal, and might even be executed.”

Old Madam Zhang’s legs gave out, and she felt like the sky was collapsing.

“What? Y-You… you’re a murderer?”

Old man Zhang’s face turned pale. He dropped to his knees and began kowtowing.

“Spare us, good sir! We’ve always lived honest lives and are known for our good conduct in the neighborhood. Please don’t drag us into this!”

Tears were nearly welling up in his eyes.

Wei Ran said, “As long as they don’t recognize me, you won’t be implicated.”

“Bring me some of your son’s clothes to wear. From now on, we’re going to be father and son.”

Old Madam Zhang nodded while trembling.

Old man Zhang looked hesitant, clearly struggling internally.

After a moment, as if making a huge decision, he gritted his teeth and said, “Alright, Father. Whatever you say, we’ll do it.”

Wei Ran nearly choked on his breath.

He stared at old man Zhang’s aged face for a long time, then rubbed his temples, speechless.

“You fool. I meant, from now on you two will pretend to be my parents.”

“The woman in the room is your daughter-in-law who recently had a miscarriage. Got it?”

Old man Zhang was stunned but quickly nodded.

“Got it, got it.”

Wei Ran left the old couple’s room dressed in tattered clothes and walked straight into the firewood shed.

Soon, smoke rose from within. His face was covered in ash, and his hair was a messy nest. He looked just like a beggar.

Six Black Armored Guards entered the courtyard.

The old couple trembled with fear but tried their best to act naturally.

The leader of the guards unfolded a portrait.

“You two, have you seen this person?”

The old couple glanced at the portrait and felt their hearts jolt.

Wasn’t that the young man who knocked on their door last night?

“No, haven’t seen him,” they said, shaking their heads simultaneously.

The guard asked, “Who lives in this house?”

Old man Zhang replied with a forced smile, “Sir, it’s just us two elders and our son and daughter-in-law.”

“Our eldest son was drafted last year. Now you’re drafting again? I only have this one younger son left to carry on the family line. Please don’t take him.”

“We’re not here to draft soldiers. We’re looking for someone,” said the Black Armored Guard.

“You few, search each room thoroughly.”

Several guards were about to charge into the room where Yun Rou was.

Wei Ran quickly ran out from the firewood shed and blocked the door.

“Hey, hey, what are you doing?”

“My wife just had a miscarriage. She can’t be exposed to cold air.”

“It’s freezing outside and there’s no heating in the room. If she catches a chill, how will she recover?”

Inside, Yun Rou heard his words, and her pale face flushed slightly.

The guards frowned in disgust when they saw Wei Ran in dirty clothes and a filthy face.

“Out of the way,” one of them said roughly, shoving Wei Ran aside as they entered.

They saw Yun Rou lying on the bed, hair disheveled.

Her bare shoulders were half-exposed. Upon seeing them, she quickly pulled the blanket up and let out a weak cough.

One guard craned his neck to look inside, his gaze fixed.

The leader walked up and kicked him.

“Eyes wide and drooling? Never seen a woman before?”

“Shame the Black Armored Guards again and I’ll kill you.”

The kicked guard hurriedly backed out of the room, but not without muttering enviously,

“Lucky bastard, married a woman who looks like a courtesan. No wonder your legs are weak.”

“Heh heh,” Wei Ran chuckled like a fool.

Inside the room, Yun Rou’s face flushed again after hearing that.

Once the guards left, Wei Ran washed his face with melted snow and changed back into clean clothes.

He returned to Yun Rou’s room and found her straightening her clothes, but unfortunately, he came in too late and saw nothing…

“Are they gone?” Yun Rou asked calmly.

“Yes, they’re gone,” said Wei Ran.

He walked over and asked, “Do you have any silver on you?”

Yun Rou took a few silver notes from her sleeve, amounting to several hundred taels.

“Why do you need silver?”

Wei Ran explained, “Your injuries won’t heal overnight. You’ll need to rest here for a few days.”

“Old man Zhang and his wife are timid. They won’t dare reveal your whereabouts.”

“You’ll need silver to recover here peacefully.”

Yun Rou nodded slowly. “What about you?”

Wei Ran hesitated.

“I can’t stay here too long. I must return to Prince Min’s Residence before dark. Otherwise, all of Chang’an City will be thrown into chaos.”

“If I’m declared dead, then I’ll truly be dead.”

Yun Rou frowned. “Why do you say that?”

Wei Ran explained, “If I return too late, Prince Min’s people will assume I died and spread the news to Liangzhou.”

“If the news of my death is confirmed, then wherever I go in the future, being recognized will mean certain death.”

Yun Rou nodded.

“That’s true.”

After a brief pause, Wei Ran said, “Miss Yun, Wei Wuji has powerful experts around him. It’s nearly impossible for just you and your master to kill him. I have a plan, but I’m not sure if I should say it.”

“Go ahead.”

Wei Ran said bluntly, “Once your injuries are mostly healed, come to Prince Min’s Residence and become my personal guard.”

“What?” Yun Rou’s mature and beautiful face showed a trace of anger. “You want me to be your personal guard? Dream on.”

She was the master of a mountain. How could she become someone’s personal guard?

If the martial world found out, wouldn’t they die laughing?

Wei Ran chuckled softly.

“Calm down, Miss Yun. Becoming my personal guard is the easiest way to kill Wei Wuji, isn’t it?”

Yun Rou frowned and gave it some thought. The meaning behind his words was clear.

Though this man was only pretending to be the Heir of Prince Min, to outsiders, he was the real deal.

With that identity, he would eventually have close contact with Wei Wuji. When that time came…

Thinking of this, Yun Rou’s eyes lit up.

She nodded at Wei Ran.

“Alright, but let’s be clear. I’ll serve as your personal guard for half a year as repayment for saving my life.”

“After that, whether or not Wei Wuji is dead, I will leave.”

“Deal.”

With the agreement made, both were satisfied.