In less than half a quarter of an hour, servants entered in orderly procession, carrying trays as dishes flowed onto the stone table like a moving feast.
Braised pork glistened with rich oil, trembling slightly in steam. Golden osmanthus cakes released a sweet fragrance. Sweet-and-sour fish was coated in a glossy sauce, and a bowl of plain noodle soup held a neatly poached egg. The aroma alone was enough to make one’s mouth water.
Shen Qingci’s eyes lit up like stars the moment he saw the spread, the corners of his mouth nearly stretching to his ears.
He secretly clenched his fists and thanked the heavens in his heart:
My high-risk profession really comes down to Li Xuan making it or breaking it. If I hadn’t impersonated him, I wouldn’t have suffered this kidnapping. But thanks to him, I also ended up with a full banquet at death’s door. Worth it.
Without waiting for Li Yunpeng’s invitation, he grabbed a piece of braised pork and shoved it into his mouth, then snatched up osmanthus cake after osmanthus cake, cheeks bulging as he chewed like a squirrel hoarding food.
Li Yunpeng sat across from him, sipping tea, smiling faintly.
“Sorry for letting you go hungry. Commander Zhao kept you tightly hidden—I had no choice but to bring you back like this. You must not have eaten well in the military, right?”
“It’s not that bad!” Shen Qingci replied through a mouthful of food, waving his hand while chewing. “The camp food is fine—just normal home cooking. Enough to fill you up. But delicious? Yeah… not like this!”
He continued gnawing on a braised pork trotter without a shred of elegance.
Li Yunpeng’s hand paused mid-teacup.
The more he looked, the more something felt wrong.
Same face. Same body. But everything else was completely different.
Hair messy, posture careless, speech unrestrained, eating like a wild animal.
This was nothing like the timid, delicate Li Yunshu he remembered.
He frowned slightly.
Can a near-death injury really change a person this much? Or… did Zhao Chengyuan use some kind of technique on him?
Suspicion quietly took root.
Shen Qingci noticed the gaze from the corner of his eye and immediately grew anxious.
Oh no. He’s definitely suspicious.
He forced himself to eat even more aggressively, slurping noodles loudly on purpose, acting completely shameless in hopes of passing the test.
His only hope now was to contact his master after Li Yunpeng left.
Meanwhile, Li Yunpeng suddenly thought of something.
There were three small black moles aligned in a straight line on Li Yunshu’s left back near the heart—something almost no one else knew.
If I check that, I’ll know for sure.
After finishing the meal, he calmly suggested a bath.
Shen Qingci agreed without suspicion.
In the bathing room, steam curled through the air.
Just as Shen Qingci was about to undress, a voice came from behind him.
“Don’t rush.”
Li Yunpeng leaned against the wall, watching him.
“I’ll stay here and take a look at your injuries.”
Shen Qingci froze.
“Li-gongzi?! You’re… not leaving?”
“What’s there to be afraid of?” Li Yunpeng said casually. “We used to bathe together when we were younger. I know every scar and mole on your body.”
Then he stepped closer.
Shen Qingci immediately backed away, flustered.
“I already told you I’m Li Xuan, not Li Yunshu!”
But Li Yunpeng didn’t listen.
Before long, Shen Qingci’s outer robe and inner clothing were forcibly removed.
His bare back was exposed under the warm steam—smooth, flawless, without a single mark.
No moles.
No scars.
Nothing.
Li Yunpeng’s hand froze mid-motion.
His expression shattered into shock.
Impossible.
Those three moles had been there since birth.
They could not disappear.
A long silence followed.
He slowly withdrew his hand, composure collapsing into confusion and disappointment.
“…I see.”
He left the room almost in haste.
Shen Qingci let out a breath of relief, then smirked inwardly.
Too naive.
He slowly stepped into the bath, completely satisfied.
The real Li Xuan does have those three moles—but I copied his appearance before coming here. And I already erased them with a small illusion technique.
If he thinks he checked everything, even better.
He leaned back in the water, planning his next move.
Once I finish bathing, I’ll contact the master and continue the act.
Outside the room, Li Yunpeng stood in the shadows.
His expression was unreadable.
That night, Shen Qingci finally activated his transmission stone.
After a long wait, a sleepy voice came through.
“Speak.”
“Master! I got kidnapped!” he immediately cried.
“Kidnapped?” Zhao Chengyuan’s voice turned sharp.
Then another voice joined.
“Xiao Shen got kidnapped?”
Li Xuan.
Shen Qingci quickly explained everything.
A brief silence followed.
Then—
“Stay there. Continue impersonating him,” Chu Wanran said calmly.
“Really?!” Shen Qingci lit up.
But Chu Wanran’s voice cooled slightly.
“You seem very happy.”
“…Not that happy!” he immediately corrected himself.
“Just follow orders.”
The call ended.
Shen Qingci collapsed back onto the bed, satisfied and relaxed.
Then muttered to himself:
“…Forgot to ask for an extension on my ability duration.”
He sighed.
“Whatever. Tomorrow.”
And just like that—he fell asleep, completely at ease, while chaos quietly continued elsewhere.