Flourishing of the Ming Dynasty Novel - Chapter 65

Chapter 65 Expose One’s Identity
Lu Zhen had been under house arrest in the barracks for many days. When he came back to see Chu Yunrong, he didn’t expect that what she had said when she met Fu Yi was, “Who exactly are you? Also … where is he now?”

As she said this, Chu Yunrong’s tone was very affirmative, and her pair of beautiful eyes were fixated on Lu Zhen’s face, observing every change in his expression.

This sentence really caught Lu Zhen off guard. At the same time, his expression changed, his pupils shrank and his heart tightened. He even had the thought of turning around and fleeing immediately.

Lu Zhen was still worried about his identity for a while ago. Whether it was the officials in the county government or the two women in the back office, they were likely to see flaws in various details. However, two months had passed, and no one had raised any doubts. This naturally made him completely relieved, and he felt that his identity as Lu Zhen could continue to be disguised.

However, he didn’t expect that someone would reveal his identity so confidently today. This change caused him to be a little absent-minded for a moment, and his reaction was simply unable to keep up.

Seeing his reaction, the last trace of doubt in Chu Yunrong’s heart had dissipated. “You … are indeed disguised!” As he spoke, his eyes quickly looked up and down Lu Zhen’s face, as if he wanted to see more differences.

At this time, Lu Zhen could no longer lie and lie. He could only bitterly smile, “You still saw the flaw. When did you start to suspect me?” From the fact that the other party had let Cuimei leave and only exposed this point when he was alone with him, it could be inferred that Chu Yunrong did not really want to do anything to him.

Although there was a conclusion in her heart, hearing Lu Zhen admit it personally made Chu Yunrong’s heart tighten. “He is my husband, after all. We have known each other since we were young. I know what his personality is like,” he said with a look of sadness. Actually, I should have noticed the problem in those actions not long after you came. It’s just that I don’t want to believe all of this. What you did and said during the Spring Festival made me even more suspicious. He always said that a gentleman could not help Cuimei tidy up the dishes, let alone the hot pot.

“And this time, the courage to charge straight into the barracks is even more insurmountable for him. There is also that airship … In front of me, no matter how confused I am, I can guess that you are not him! Now, can you tell me where he is?” Although the relationship between her and Lu Zhen was indifferent and subtle, the two of them were childhood sweethearts and husband and wife.

“So I’ve already revealed so many flaws. It’s ridiculous that I thought I was playing the role of magistrate of the Landing County seamlessly.” Lu Zhen shook his head with a bitter smile. The facts showed that it wasn’t that he was disguising himself well, but that Chu Yunrong didn’t pursue it further.

“You are completely different from him. He has always been greedy, cowardly, and selfish, and you are much better. Just the courage to fight to the end is not something he can have.” Chu Yunrong added softly.

At this moment, Lu Zhen didn’t know whether he should be happy or worried. It was actually because he was too outstanding that people saw his flaws. Forget it, since that’s the case, let’s be honest: “He actually died long before I came to Guangling County.”

“Ah” Hearing this, Chu Yunrong’s expression changed, and her gaze carried a hint of panic and hostility.

Seeing this, Lu Zhen waved his hand and said, “Listen to me. Actually, I didn’t kill him. When I found him, he was already a corpse …” With that, he briefly explained what happened before, but concealed his identity as a transmigrator. He only said that he was a Han Chinese who escaped from the grasslands.

Listening quietly to Lu Zhen’s words, a strange expression flashed across Chu Yunrong’s face from time to time. Although Lu Zhen’s words were a little sensational, she still believed the man in front of her. This feeling was something that she had never felt before …

“Did he actually die because of this?” After hearing the whole story of her anger, Chu Yunrong revealed a strange expression. She felt both sorrow for her misfortune and indignation. At the same time, she also felt relieved, “I told him that greed would harm him, but he refused to listen. Now it has indeed come true.”

Hearing this, Lu Zhen smiled bitterly. Unfortunately for County Magistrate Lu, it was obviously a great blessing for him. Otherwise, he might not even know where he was at this time.

Just as he was thinking about it, he saw Chu Yunrong suddenly react and proudly bow to him, “Thank you so much for avenging him …”

“You don’t have to be like this” Lu Zhen was at a loss as he tried to reach out to help her, but when he was about to touch her body, he paused again. Obviously, he remembered that there was a difference between men and women at this moment, so he could only shrink back. “In the end, I only did all this to protect myself. I can’t afford to thank her so much.”

Chu Yunrong stood up and blushed. “There is such a coincidence in this world. Not only do you have the same name as him, but you also look like him. Is this really the will of heaven?”

“Perhaps. Even the heavens couldn’t see those fellows behaving so badly here, causing the heavens to be angry. That’s why I escaped here, replacing his identity.” Lu Zhen exhaled as he spoke, feeling much better in his heart.

For the past two months, he had been hiding such thoughts. He was always worried that his identity would be discovered, so the pressure in his heart naturally wasn’t small. Until this moment, his heart relaxed when he was called Shattered True Body. Then, he said, “Things have come to this point. I only hope that Madam Lu can promise me one thing.”

“Speak” Hearing him call her Madam Lu, Chu Yunrong’s heart skipped a beat. However, she did not know why she felt this way. At the same time, her voice was much gentler than before.

“I really shouldn’t be hiding it from you. I have taken the place of County Magistrate Lu for so long. I only hope that you don’t blame me and allow me to leave first. It won’t be too late for you to notify the people in the county government then. May I know if Madam Lu will agree?” Lu Zhen solemnly looked at the other party and cupped his hands.

Since his identity had been discovered, his only thought was to leave quickly. Fortunately, he hadn’t taken advantage of her during this period of time, so he wasn’t afraid that Chu Yunrong would hate him and take revenge on him. Moreover, he still had three hundred taels of silver from Xiao Mo. With this money, he would have the confidence to survive.

The only regret was that he would become a black door again. The world and everything that he had fought so desperately for these past few days would vanish into thin air. Thinking about this, Lu Zhen felt helpless …

“No!” Unexpectedly, as soon as he said those words, Chu Yunrong already cried out anxiously and loudly.

Her reaction was really too intense. It scared Lu Zhen, but at the same time, it also made his heart sink. Could it be that she wanted to pursue her counterfeiting crime, or even kill him? Thinking of this, he was already vigilant. Once the other party really shouted, he could not say that he could only make a move first.

Chu Yunrong also noticed that she had lost her composure. Her face flushed red as she said in anticipation, “I … it’s a pleasure for you to leave like this, but what should I do with Cuimei and the two weak women?”

“Ah?” Lu Zhen was thinking about how to make a move, but when he heard this, he was stunned. After that, he turned around and seemed to have misunderstood the other party’s intentions.

At this point, Chu Yunrong’s eyes turned red as she said, “The world belongs to you guys. We’re just women … Now that you’ve left, how can I be alone? Don’t tell me that you only care about yourself, yet you have the heart to let the two of us be here …”

Hearing this, Lu Zhen also felt that the other party was not worrying too much. With the depth of the water and the beauty of the two women, once they lost their protection, they would probably be eaten to the point where not even their bones were left.

“Then what do you mean?” Lu Zhen had already vaguely come to a conclusion in his heart, but he still hoped that Chu Yunrong would personally tell him the answer he wanted.

Chu Yunrong gently opened her lips. After a moment of hesitation, she said in a low voice, “Whether it’s for the sake of the people of Guang Ling, you or me, staying behind and continuing to be the county magistrate is your last choice.” At this point, she seemed to think of something wrong with her words. Her face turned red again, but in the end, she mustered up her courage and looked straight at Lu Zhen. “I ask you, you just don’t want to be fooled by you all the time. Will you agree?”

Lu Zhen was overjoyed, and a smile appeared on his face. “I’m just a fugitive from the grasslands. I’m truly flattered to be valued so highly by Madam Lu. Since that’s the case, for the sake of the people in this county, and also for the sake of Madam Lu, I’m willing to stay here and continue to be the county magistrate!”

Hearing him say it was for his own sake, Chu Yunrong’s entire face instantly turned red and hot. To be honest, she was calm and cold. She had never blushed and felt ashamed as she did today. But for some reason, apart from that shyness, there was even more joy. This kind of feeling made her afraid to think about it.

It must be known that at this moment, she, Chu Yunrong, was the widow who had just lost her husband!

“Then, Yun Rong thanks Lu … Lu Zhen,” Chu Yunrong bowed again. “By the way, I’ll still call you Lu Zhen in the future. You just call me Yun Rong to avoid being seen through any flaws.”

“Then it’s better to obey respectfully.” Lu Zhen clasped his fists and nodded, but his heart relaxed. It was much easier to tell from her words that she would conceal herself than to pretend to be alone. After all, Chu Yunrong was the wife of County Magistrate Lu’s childhood sweetheart, so she naturally knew a lot about him. With her advice, many flaws would no longer exist. And even if someone really discovered something wrong, with this county magistrate’s wife testifying from the side, no one would dare to say that he was a fake.

The two of them looked at each other again and smiled tacitly …