The Next Morning
The following morning, after the fake funeral ceremony had concluded, Zhao Renshu sat in the pavilion with a sour expression, while Bai Xianyu stood before him with her arms crossed.
"So, you were nearly poisoned to death, and now you're just sitting here staring at the fish pond like someone who lost their sandal?" Bai Xianyu raised an eyebrow, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Zhao Renshu let out a long sigh. "What else can I do? My brother didn't even give me a chance to investigate. He just said, 'You should be more careful.' That's it."
Bai Xianyu sat beside him, watching him with amusement. "And what were you expecting? That he'd send an entire battalion to guard you like a baby?"
"Not exactly," Zhao Renshu muttered, kicking a small pebble into the pond. "But I wish I could at least do something other than sit here. I feel like a burden."
Bai Xianyu held back a laugh. "You are a burden."
Zhao Renshu glared. "Hey!"
"What? It's the truth." Bai Xianyu smirked slightly.
Before Zhao Renshu could retort, a eunuch ran toward them, his face pale with urgency.
"Your Highness! His Majesty the Emperor summons you at once!"
Zhao Renshu and Bai Xianyu exchanged glances before finally rising to follow the eunuch to the main hall.
Inside, Emperor Zhao Mingze regarded them with a serious expression.
"Renshu, you are being assigned a new task."
Zhao Renshu swallowed. "What is it?"
The Emperor gave a small smile. A smile that sent a shiver down Zhao Renshu's spine.
"You will be working with Bai Xianyu to investigate treason within the palace. Didn't you spot someone suspicious during the fake funeral ceremony yesterday?"
Zhao Renshu and Bai Xianyu simultaneously shouted, "WHAT?!"
The Emperor ignored their reaction and continued calmly. "The two of you will go undercover and uncover who is still trying to harm the royal family. I have already arranged everything. You will depart tomorrow."
Bai Xianyu widened her eyes at Zhao Renshu. "I have to work with him? Your Majesty, you might as well just send me alone. I can handle this."
Zhao Renshu looked at the Emperor as if his brother had just sentenced him to death. "I have to work with her?"
The Emperor nodded in satisfaction. "Yes. You both possess the necessary skills. Xianyu is strong, and you… well, you can talk your way through things. Besides, you need to stay hidden since you pretended to die."
Bai Xianyu burst into laughter. "So his only skill is talking?"
Zhao Renshu scowled. "At least I know how to speak politely, unlike someone here!"
"Yeah, yeah. Let's see who proves to be more useful on this mission," Bai Xianyu said with a teasing smirk.
Zhao Mingze sighed, already feeling a headache coming on from the two of them.
"Enough. Get ready. I don't want to hear any more complaints."
And with that, their investigation mission began. Though neither of them was remotely prepared to deal with each other throughout this journey.
The Disguise
The day of departure arrived much faster than Zhao Renshu had hoped. Now, he stood before a mirror, staring at his reflection with sheer misery.
The commoner's clothing he wore was itchy, his usually neat hair was left in an unkempt mess, and—this was the worst part—Bai Xianyu had forced him to smear some charcoal on his face to look more "poor."
"I look like a beggar," Zhao Renshu muttered irritably.
"You have to look like a beggar," Bai Xianyu called from outside the door. "If you walk around looking that handsome, people will get suspicious. You can't disguise yourself as a simple merchant with a princely face that shines like the moon!"
Zhao Renshu snorted. "I know I'm handsome, but you don't have to exaggerate it."
Then it was Bai Xianyu's turn to change. When the door cracked open slightly and she stepped inside, Zhao Renshu's eyes widened in surprise.
Bai Xianyu wore a simple outfit in soft, muted colors, devoid of the extravagant ornaments and jewelry she usually adorned in the palace. Her hair was tied in the style of a village woman, and her face—bare of any makeup—looked naturally beautiful.
"What are you staring at?" Bai Xianyu asked suspiciously.
Zhao Renshu blinked. "I just… didn't expect you to look so… ordinary."
SREEETTT
A sandal flew straight toward Zhao Renshu's head, which he barely dodged in time.
"Stop talking nonsense! We need to leave now!" Bai Xianyu huffed.
They walked out of the pavilion toward the palace gates, where a eunuch handed them their travel documents.
"You will be posing as a married couple," the eunuch stated blankly.
Zhao Renshu choked. "What?! Who decided that?!"
"The Emperor," the eunuch answered flatly.
Bai Xianyu looked just as stunned but then let out a long sigh, patting Zhao Renshu's shoulder. "Accept your fate, husband."
Zhao Renshu stared at her in horror. "I'd rather disguise myself as a beggar than be your husband!"
"Unfortunately, that option isn't available," Bai Xianyu replied nonchalantly before walking off with an amused grin.
Zhao Renshu cursed under his breath. This journey had barely started, and he already knew how maddening this mission would be.
The Market Scene
Zhao Renshu walked beside Bai Xianyu with a look of pure suffering. They had just entered the bustling city market, where merchants loudly advertised their goods.
"I still can't believe we have to pretend to be husband and wife," Zhao Renshu grumbled.
"Stop complaining, dearest husband," Bai Xianyu cooed sweetly, sarcasm dripping from every word. "If you keep scowling like that, people will get even more suspicious."
Zhao Renshu let out a long sigh. This was pure torture. Not because the disguise was difficult, but because Bai Xianyu clearly enjoyed her role.
"You need to start acting like a caring husband," Bai Xianyu continued. "For example, buy me something to eat."
"What?!" Zhao Renshu gawked at her. "Why do I have to buy you food?"
"Because a good husband always looks after his wife," Bai Xianyu said with a smug smile. "Besides, if we're newlyweds, you should at least pretend to be romantic."
Zhao Renshu grumbled but eventually gave in, walking to a nearby stall and buying two steamed buns.
"Here," he said, handing one to Bai Xianyu.
Bai Xianyu stared at the bun before sighing dramatically. "You're not going to feed me?"
Zhao Renshu nearly choked on air. "Of course not!"
Bai Xianyu scoffed. "Some husband you are."
Zhao Renshu gritted his teeth, about to retort, when an elderly woman selling fabric nearby suddenly spoke with suspicion.
"You two are a strange couple. Newlyweds are usually more affectionate."
Both Zhao Renshu and Bai Xianyu stiffened.
The old woman folded her arms and scrutinized them. "You say you're married, but you bicker like enemies."
Bai Xianyu quickly hooked her arm around Zhao Renshu's and flashed a bright smile. "Oh, we just like to tease each other, Grandma!"
Zhao Renshu nearly tripped as Bai Xianyu pulled him close.
The old woman remained skeptical. "Then prove it. A good husband should be able to make his wife smile sweetly."
Zhao Renshu felt his soul leave his body. This is a trap!
Bai Xianyu gave him a challenging look. "Go on, husband. Show me your love."
Zhao Renshu wanted to disappear. But left with no choice, he awkwardly lifted a hand and… lightly patted Bai Xianyu's head like a child.
"Uh… good job," he said stiffly.
Bai Xianyu gawked. The old woman looked even more suspicious.
"What a weird couple," she muttered, before returning to her work.
Bai Xianyu burst into laughter, while Zhao Renshu buried his face in his hands.
This was going to be a very long journey. He also couldn't return to the palace because he had faked his death there.