Chapter 143: Knocking the Mountain to Shake the Tiger

The Imperial Prison of the North Bureau of the Jinyiwei.

It was dim and low, with only a few torches emitting light.

The air was filled with a damp and foul stench, and row upon row of cage-like fences were packed with prisoners covered in blood and gore.

At the end of the prison corridor, inside a slightly spacious cell, a person sat with their hands wrapped around their knees, huddled alone in the corner of the wall.

That person was about forty-something, of medium build, with a fair complexion.

Beneath a pair of delicate eyebrows were embedded a pair of alluring peach-blossom eyes.

It was precisely the Sun Xiang mentioned by Qian Liang.

Because he had received care from Han San, there was even a square table placed in the middle of his cell, with wine and meat on top.

Though it was called a cell, it was actually more comfortable than how the vast majority of commoners lived.

At this moment, he looked at the wine and food on the table, but had not the slightest appetite.

He had intended to rely on the great Buddha that was the Wuqing Marquis, but ended up getting himself tossed in here.

He wished he could slap himself twice.

Having entered this "Ghost-Seeing-Sorrow," he feared he would not be able to leave this Jinyiwei prison without suffering a massive financial loss.

However, the only good news was that his life could, in any case, be preserved.

Those Jinyiwei had not yet tortured him and were still providing him with good food and drink, which was enough to show from the side that the great Buddha of the Wuqing Marquis was not entirely useless.

It was good that the Wuqing Marquis's signboard was useful.

He had, after all, blocked this disaster for the Wuqing Marquis; the old thing had to show some sense of righteousness after all.

After getting out, to say nothing else, he would at least have to provide some compensation.

The raw materials for those Silver Dollars were all provided by him; the Wuqing Marquis provided nothing, yet took eighty percent directly, leaving only the remaining twenty percent for himself.

Back and forth, counting the losses, what he earned was truly limited.

Just as he was thinking, a burst of footsteps suddenly came from the corridor not far away.

Sun Xiang stopped his train of thought and tilted his head to listen; very soon, he saw a young gentleman in green robes leading a Jinyiwei Thousand-Household walking up to the door.

It was precisely Zhang Yunxiu and Han San.

The three pairs of eyes met; Sun Xiang was secretly surprised in his heart, but on the surface, he stood up, straightened his robes, and said unhurriedly, "Has news come from above? Speak, how much money must I pay?"

"Money the moment you open your mouth; it seems Shopkeeper Sun is very wealthy." Glancing at Sun Xiang, Zhang Yunxiu smiled and teased.

"I have some wealth; it should be enough to buy this life of mine." Sun Xiang did not know Zhang Yunxiu's identity, so he began to speak casually, "I fear the young master does not know, but I am a person who works for the Wuqing Marquis."

"I have not bitten him out."

"Indeed, the Wuqing Marquis's steward has come to find my people." Zhang Yunxiu smiled and gave Han San a look; Han San took out a key to open the cell door, and the two walked in together.

"Is that so? What did he say?" Sun Xiang became nervous all of a sudden.

"He told me to release you."

"Really?!"

"Don't get excited yet."

Zhang Yunxiu signaled for him to calm down, then sat down at the square table, pointed at the wine and food on it, and remarked with emotion, "Such good wine and food, it would be a waste if not eaten. Shopkeeper Sun, come, let us eat while we talk."

Sun Xiang felt as anxious as if a cat were clawing at his heart; how could he have the mood to drink and make merry? However, judging by the tone of this young gentleman before him, combined with the attitude of the Jinyiwei, this person might truly be able to decide his fate.

He suppressed his restlessness, came to the table, and sat down.

Smiling as he poured a cup of wine for Sun Xiang, Zhang Yunxiu asked, "Shopkeeper Sun, are you from Nanjing?"

"I am."

"What are you doing in Beijing?"

"Doing some small business, nothing presentable. As for you, young master, you are accompanied by a Jinyiwei Thousand-Household and enter this Jinyiwei prison as if entering an empty place; you must be a big shot in this capital."

As Sun Xiang spoke, his eyes flashed with a crafty light.

Zhang Yunxiu did not answer him directly, but only asked with a smile, "How did you come to know Qian Liang?"

"A friend in business."

"Oh, then do you know what crime you are currently guilty of?"

When Zhang Yunxiu asked this, although he wore a smile, Sun Xiang felt a chill to the bone.

Just at this moment, a gust of fishy wind blew past, the oil lamp at the doorway flickered, and the light in the cell became intermittent.

"I... I know." Swallowing a mouthful of saliva, Sun Xiang replied with difficulty.

"You know, yet you still did it?" "I cannot compare to you people; I don't have a father who is an official, so I can only rely on this to find myself a powerful and influential father."

Hearing the sarcasm in the words, Han San at the side glared with wide eyes, gritted his teeth, and said, "Presumptuous! You damn bastard, you did a head-lopping deed yourself, and now you are blaming others instead."

"Heh, if we really followed the law, how many of the nobles in this capital would have to lose their heads? Embezzling military pay, drinking soldiers' blood, extorting merchants, collecting Empty Pay—one case after another, and I am just a runner for others, yet I became the principal offender." Sun Xiang also lost his temper; he widened his eyes and vented the resentment he had held in his heart for so many years in one breath.

These merchants of theirs, don't look at them as having money.

But in front of those powerful and noble people, they count for nothing at all.

When those people commit crimes, no one dares to touch their brows, but he is different; in his daily life, he has to be careful even when he farts.

He has to accompany everyone with a smiling face, fearing he might provoke this master or that.

"Indeed, there is too much injustice in this world. But this is the law of this world. If standing in your position, perhaps you are right, but you did, after all, break the law..."

"How much money to buy this lowly life of mine? I ask the young master to name a price."

"I don't want money, but I want you to help me identify someone." Zhang Yunxiu shook his head and spoke the words lightly.

"Who?"

"Qian Liang."

"You're crazy! That is the Wuqing Marquis's steward. Who is the Wuqing Marquis? He is the Emperor's maternal grandfather and the father of the current Empress Dowager. If you move him, that is smearing the faces of the Emperor and the Empress Dowager."

Sun Xiang jumped up all of a sudden with an excited look on his face. Zhang Yunxiu raised his wine cup, tilted his neck, and drank it, then asked in return, "When did I ever ask you to identify the Wuqing Marquis? I only asked you to identify Qian Liang."

"Beat the grass to startle the snake?" Sun Xiang began to come to his senses.

"You are a sensible man," Zhang Yunxiu said, standing up, staring straight at Sun Xiang, and saying word by word, "This matter was done by Qian Liang behind the back of the Wuqing Marquis; he is the mastermind, and you were coerced by him, understand?"

"I understand," Sun Xiang nodded and replied.

Seeing that his goal was achieved, Zhang Yunxiu did not stay any longer; he covered his mouth and nose and left the prison, with Han San following closely behind.

The two arrived at the duty room of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and Han San brought a stool for Zhang Yunxiu; once he was seated, Han San said with some worry, "Young Master, this Wuqing Marquis is not an ordinary noble; if we move against him..."

"We aren't moving against him, just wanting to give him a reminder and scare him a little," Zhang Yunxiu waved his hand to interrupt.

The corners of Han San's mouth turned bitter, and he shook his head, saying, "As the saying goes, to beat a dog, one must look at its master. This Qian Liang is just a vicious dog belonging to the Wuqing Marquis. If we beat him, there's no telling how angry the dog's master will get."

"Han San, have you ever raised fish?"

"Raised fish?" Han San did not know why Zhang Yunxiu asked this, but since it was asked, he had to answer; he pondered for a moment and shook his head, saying, "Please enlighten me, Young Master."

Zhang Yunxiu glanced at him and continued on his own, "To raise fish, first you must change the water to ensure it is clean, otherwise the fish will surely be poisoned to death. Second, the big fish must be placed in a separate pond, otherwise, the small fish will never grow up."

Upon hearing this, Han San lowered his head, not daring to respond.

"Han San," Zhang Yunxiu called out.

"Ah? I am here," Han San suddenly raised his head and looked at Zhang Yunxiu with a panicked expression.

"Have you ever drunk the blood of your subordinates or taken Empty Pay?"

"Me?" Han San immediately shook his head repeatedly, cupped his hands, and replied, "I follow by your side, Young Master, and receive plenty of rewards; naturally, it is impossible for me to do such things that violate the law."

However, there were some friends and subordinates who would take the initiative to send over small gift boxes.

As long as it wasn't some heaven-shaking major matter, he would help if he could.

Each person didn't give much, just a few dozen or a hundred taels, but it added up, and every year it was a staggering figure.

"Since you haven't done this, then go steadily and handle Qian Liang for me," Zhang Yunxiu said sternly.

"Young Master..." Han San said with a pleading tone.

"What? My words don't carry weight now?"

"No."

"Then go quickly!" Zhang Yunxiu stamped his foot and said decisively, "If this matter is done, I will request a merit for you, and you will be promoted and get rich; if it is not handled well, don't blame me for being heartless!"

"Yes."

Seeing that his master had spoken to this extent, Han San dared not refuse and hurriedly nodded in agreement.

"Go quickly!" Zhang Yunxiu urged with a flushed face.

"Young Master, there is one more difficulty," Han San scratched his head with a simple smile and added, "That Qian Liang is staying in the Wuqing Marquis's mansion; I wouldn't dare take men to charge in and arrest him."

Zhang Yunxiu glared at him fiercely and said with an agitated expression, "Can't you use your brain? Can't you find an excuse to lure this guy out?"

"I understand."

(End of this chapter)