Plotting with You: The Forensic Scientist in Ancient Times!

Chapter 686 - 685: Shaving the Beard

Lin Kun hesitated for a moment, feeling that Zhu Yu, though only a minor Chief Historian, was quite esteemed, yet still lacked influence. Telling her would be pointless.

However, on second thought, this Chief Historian Yu was far more approachable than Lord Imperial Censor. Perhaps there might be room for negotiation, even if only to help him persuade and plead later.

So he changed his mind and pleaded with Zhu Yu, "Chief Historian Yu, I previously offended Lord Imperial Censor and you. I hope you can overlook a small person’s mistake and not hold it against me.

The Young Master grew up under my watch, so I did get somewhat impulsive and said some foolish things. Could you help me plead with Lord Imperial Censor to take me along with you?"

"This..." Zhu Yu looked at Lin Kun with some difficulty, "Guard Lin, isn’t your appearance pretty recognizable?

After all these years, the other guards who stayed in the mansion have merely grown older. They probably aren’t so old that their eyes are failing, or their memory has worsened significantly.

Following us with your looks like this... wouldn’t you be recognized at a glance?"

Lin Kun, startled, touched his big beard and turned to leave.

Within the time of a tea break, he returned, and Zhu Yu waited for him at the doorway. From a distance, she could see that Lin Kun’s big beard was gone, and the skin on his cheeks was flushed, likely from hastily shaving clean.

"Guard Lin, what’s this...?" Zhu Yu expressed surprise, observing Lin Kun, who strode forward.

"Chief Historian Yu, do I look much different now compared to earlier? If I disguise myself a bit more, can I get away with it?" Lin Kun turned around in front of Zhu Yu.

"This..." Zhu Yu looked at him with a troubled expression, then glanced inside the room. "Perhaps, you should let the Young Master see for himself. If he thinks you won’t be easily recognized, then it might work."

Lin Kun thought that made sense. Chief Historian Yu wasn’t very familiar with him, and indeed couldn’t tell how much he had changed.

So he quickly nodded, bypassed Zhu Yu, and raised a hand to knock on the door: "Lord Imperial Censor, Young Master, I have something to report. Is it convenient for you two to let me in?"

After a moment, Lu Qing’s voice came from inside, "Come in."

Lin Kun quickly pushed open the door and entered, with Zhu Yu following him, eyes full of interest.

Inside the room, Lin Kun saw Lu Qing standing with his hands behind his back, and at the table sat a thin-faced man looking around thirty; he appeared unfamiliar, making Lin Kun wonder if he was someone under Situ Jing, since he hadn’t had the time to recognize each one after they arrived.

During this time, his attention was even less on recognizing others, and he swept his gaze across the man’s face, then around the room, only to find Lu Qing and the stranger there, with no sign of Chang Yu, causing him to pause.

He looked uncertainly at Lu Qing, then at Zhu Yu, "Sir... did the Young Master leave first just now?"

"Guard Lin... seems a bit different today." Lu Qing looked at Lin Kun without answering his question, commenting instead.

Lin Kun touched his unbearded, unfamiliar-feeling cheeks, grinning awkwardly, "To be honest, Lord Imperial Censor, I’ve been worried, afraid the Young Master would be without someone to look out for him, and knowing the place well, I wanted to go with you to Prince Lan Mansion.

Outside earlier, Chief Historian Yu reminded me that my looks were too conspicuous and easy for the old guards at the mansion to recognize, so I shaved off my beard...

Sir, do you think with my current appearance, I can go with you?"

"Well..." Lu Qing frowned, glanced at Lin Kun, then turned to ask the stranger at the table, "What do you think?"

The thin-faced man shook his head, "I don’t think just this will suffice."

Lin Kun, having painfully shaved the beard he’d kept for years, felt a bit regretful, but was willing to endure it to protect the Young Master on the way. Now, this unfamiliar man suddenly dismissed him with just a few words, making him feel quite displeased.

But before he could react, he suddenly realized—though the man’s face was unfamiliar, his voice was so familiarly recognizable...

"You... you..." Lin Kun hesitantly looked at the man, stepping closer to scrutinize his features, confirming that the nose and eyes were unfamiliar, but the eyes carried an inexplicable familiarity.

"Uncle Lin, I thought you would recognize me right away." The thin-faced man couldn’t hold it any longer, smiling as he spoke to Lin Kun.

Once addressed, Lin Kun immediately confirmed his previous uncertain guess, recognizing the person as Chang Yu, his eyes widening as he hurried closer to take a careful look.

Chang Yu’s eyes were familiar, but his facial features had changed.

"This... Young Master... what’s this..." Lin Kun exclaimed in surprise, eyes wide open.

"Lord Imperial Censor used fake skin to disguise me like this. Since even you didn’t recognize me just now, surely no one in Prince Lan Mansion will recognize me either," Chang Yu said with a smile, getting up to take a few steps. "Even if they’ve seen me, it was when I was a child. I look different in age and appearance now, so it’s foolproof."

Lin Kun hadn’t expected Lu Qing to have such a trick up his sleeve, so astonished that he could barely find his tongue, not knowing what to say, his eyes widening like those of an ox.

"Uncle Lin, stop being so surprised." Chang Yu, nearly bursting into laughter at Lin Kun’s expression, hastily reminded, "Just shaving a beard might not be enough to avoid recognition. To be completely sure, Lord Imperial Censor’s help would be needed."

Lin Kun returned to his senses, hurriedly running to Lu Qing, "Lord Imperial Censor, I beg you to help disguise me too, so I can accompany the Young Master to Prince Lan Mansion!"

"I intended to do so, originally worried Guard Lin would be reluctant to part with his beloved beard, making it difficult. Now, seeing you have willingly taken care of it, please have a seat," Lu Qing said, nodding as he gestured toward a chair.

[I’m wondering aloud here for some friends who might not see this.

Yesterday, someone commented wanting to see a side story of Lu Zhang and Yan Shu, so I’m curious about your views. Do you wish for them to have a BE (bad ending) or HE (happy ending)?]