Feng Zexuan flipped off the tiger’s back in one smooth motion.
She waved at Feng Zekai. “Brother, keep up.”
Feng Zekai landed neatly and strode after his sister.
The two of them crouched low and advanced stealthily, using the rapidly growing post-rain ferns as cover, making their way to the rocky wall beside a waterfall.
The roar of the water was thunderous—perfectly masking the faint sounds of loose stones sliding during their climb.
Using both hands and feet, Feng Zexuan climbed swiftly and reached a natural stone platform in just a few moves.
She parted the hanging banana leaves, peeking out with half her head exposed, locking her gaze onto the pool below.
Feng Zekai arrived right behind her.
The moment he steadied himself, his eyes swept toward the pool—
A hunched figure stood with his back to them, hands undoing the belt at his waist.
The man’s back was severely stooped, and his silver hair whipped wildly in the wind.
Feng Zekai’s expression stiffened. He immediately reached out to cover his sister’s eyes.
“Xuan’er, don’t look. It’s improper.”
But Feng Zexuan reacted even faster—tilting her head away and grabbing his wrist to pull his hand down.
She leaned close to his ear, warm breath brushing it:
“Brother, don’t block it! If the system calls it a gossip-worthy scene, it can’t be just some old man bathing.”
【I’ve seen all kinds of beach grandpas in my past life—this is nothing. Barely even PG.】
【At most this is kids’ channel level!】
Feng Zekai still tried to block it, but his palm loosened slightly—fingers quietly parting just enough to peek through.
“Only one look,” he said in a low, hoarse voice.
Feng Zexuan grinned and leaned in eagerly.
Across the waterfall, behind dense bushes—
Xiao Juechen crouched in black martial robes, holding half a piece of dry rations.
Beside him, Feng Han’an wore an expression like he wanted to bury his face in the ground.
This rebellious daughter…!
Not only dragging her brother to spy on an official bathing, but also spouting outrageous nonsense!
Xiao Juechen glanced at the nearly exploding Feng Han’an and twitched the corner of his mouth.
He raised a hand, signaling silence—but his usually stern eyes now gleamed with gossip-fueled excitement.
This familiar voice… this familiar mental tone…
Looks like there was another show to watch.
His gaze shifted toward the figure by the pool, brow slightly furrowed.
That silhouette… why did it look vaguely familiar?
Below, the “old man” untied his belt and let his outer robe slip down.
Then—he reached behind his back.
With a series of bone-chilling clicks, he actually detached a brown object from his spine.
Thud!
The object landed on the pebble shore with a heavy sound.
Feng Zexuan widened her eyes.
Through the gap between her fingers, she saw clearly—
It was a polished tortoise shell?!
Once the shell was removed, the originally hunched, shrimp-like back straightened instantly.
The frail body stretched out, revealing a surprisingly upright, youthful frame.
【Holy crap—turtle sage?!】
【This old guy is cosplaying?! Hunched posture was fake?!】
By the pool, the man—Sun Mao—was completely unaware he was being watched from multiple angles.
He stretched casually, then squatted by the water and scooped up a handful of water to wash his silver hair.
What followed stunned everyone.
He pulled out a small porcelain bottle, poured black liquid into his hands, and began rubbing it into his hair vigorously.
In seconds, the silver strands turned jet black and glossy.
Then he washed his face.
He scrubbed hard, as if peeling off a layer of skin.
Moments later, he lifted his head and shook out his wet hair.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves, scattering across his face.
Water droplets slid down.
Not a trace of old age remained.
Instead, a clean, sharp, youthful face appeared—bright-eyed, fair-skinned, and refined.
At most, he looked in his early twenties.
“Hiss—”
Feng Zekai inhaled sharply, his hand frozen mid-cover.
Across the way, Feng Han’an rubbed his eyes repeatedly, almost thinking he was hallucinating.
What… what kind of transformation was this?!
Where did that dying old man go?
How did he suddenly become a pretty boy?!
【What the—Asia’s four great sorceries: makeup?!】
【That’s not an old official—that’s his grandson!】
【System, scan him! Who has the guts to cosplay like this in the hunting grounds?!】
【And that tortoise shell—ninja turtle cosplay?!】
The system’s familiar annoying voice instantly rang out:
“Ding! Host, this man is Sun Mao, a minor official in the Ministry of Works.”
“But his current identity… is his grandfather, Sun Dequan—who died two years ago.”
Feng Zexuan: “???”
“Say that again? His grandfather has been dead for two years? Then who’s collecting salary in the Ministry of Works?”
System: “Him.”
“This guy is quite the talent.”
“After his grandfather died, he didn’t want to lose the salary, but also didn’t want to take the imperial exam.”
“So he slapped his thigh and decided—he would impersonate his grandfather.”
“He trained in disguise, wore a tortoise shell to simulate a hunchback, dyed his hair white, drew wrinkles—completely maintained the identity for two full years.”
“And because his grandfather was already a minor, barely noticed official, no one realized anything.”
Feng Zexuan’s jaw nearly dropped.
“Replace your grandfather at court?”
“Like Mulan replacing her father in the army… this guy replaced his grandfather at work?!”
“This is workplace fraud at its peak!”
The system replied dryly:
“Host, you seem to have forgotten—you also once impersonated your brother at court.”
Feng Zexuan slapped her forehead.
“…Oops. How embarrassing. I totally forgot about that.”
Feng Zekai smiled helplessly, thinking: My sister’s double standards are… oddly endearing.
Across the bushes, Xiao Juechen felt his blood pressure rise.
Ridiculous.
Utterly ridiculous!
A minor official had been impersonated for two years?!
Where were the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Personnel?!
If this got out, where would the imperial court put its face?!
Meanwhile, Feng Han’an stayed eerily quiet, suddenly feeling guilty.
After all… he had once allowed his daughter to impersonate her brother…
The system continued exposing secrets:
“This guy isn’t just bold—he’s also very cautious.”
“He plans to impersonate for five years, collect enough salary and benefits, then retire early under some excuse.”
“After that, he’ll take the money, buy farmland, marry a beautiful wife, and live a carefree life.”
“His ultimate goal—retire at 25.”
Feng Zexuan’s eyes lit up.
“Retire at 25?!”
“That’s my dream life!”
“This guy is a genius! Way better than a 996 slave!”
“Too bad… too bad…”
She smacked her lips regretfully.
“Too bad he met me.”
“I need this talent in my farm. Let him experience what real ‘labor is glorious’ means.”
“Retire at 25? Dream on. In my farm, even at 80 you’ll be plowing fields!”
The system laughed:
“You’re just jealous of his dream of doing nothing.”
“If you can’t do it, you destroy others’ dreams?”
“I like it.”
“Same here,” she grinned.
“My dreams can’t come true—so neither can anyone else’s.”
Across the way, Xiao Juechen could only stare in silence.
This girl…
She was openly jealous to the bone.
And yet—
His gaze turned cold as he looked at Sun Mao.
This matter… must be investigated thoroughly.
At this moment, Feng Zexuan could no longer sit still.
She patted Feng Zekai’s shoulder.
“Brother, let’s go down and catch him.”
Feng Zekai smiled gently.
“Alright.”
The siblings were just about to move—
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