Chapter 491: Pan Pan Niangzi Seeks Help After Being Poisoned

The Three Great Camps withdrew from Jingcheng, the Wucheng Soldiers and Horses Bureau re-emerged onto the scene, and Jingcheng gradually restored order.

The great gates of the imperial prison swung wide, and the jailers could finally go home.

The new Emperor had yet to be decided, but that had little to do with ordinary folk. No matter who became Emperor, taxes still had to be paid, and corvée labor could not be escaped. Even the price of grain in Jingcheng remained rock-steady, stubbornly refusing to drop by a single copper.

The common folk were nearly starving to death, yet no one saw the court step in to do a thing about it.

So, what difference could a new Emperor or an old one possibly make?

Chen Chen Guanlou carried a pot of wine and half a catty of braised meat back home.

After so many days away, the house was filthy beyond description. Mainly because Jingcheng's spring winds were fierce, howling day after day, leaving a layer of sand and dust on the rooms and tabletops.

He fetched water for a thorough cleaning and got the fire going.

He should have called two jailers over to help with the cleaning, at worst paying them a little. Decided — next time he'd do exactly that.

He called out a greeting to Sister Sister Chunxiang next door, but she wasn't home. The Hou Fu needed temporary workers, and she had already gone there several days ago.

Chen Chen Guanlou asked Da Wang, "What did your mother go to the Hou Fu for? It's not a festival, and there's no banquet."

"From what my mother said, someone in the Hou Fu got into trouble, and it dragged in a whole string of people. The two Ladies seemed to have had some nasty falling-out. The Hou Fu is short-handed, so my mother went to fill in."

"Did they say who got into trouble?"

"They did, but I didn't remember." Da Wang said it as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Chen Chen Guanlou crooked a finger and flicked him on the forehead. "That brain of yours only remembers eating. How would you like to take a post at the Hou Fu?"

"My mother says I'm not up to it. With this brain of mine, I'd only cause trouble at the Hou Fu. My mother wants me to go into the Hou Fu's trading house, be an apprentice, learn a trade."

"Learning a trade is the right move. With a skill, you'll never go hungry, no matter when."

"But I don't want to learn a trade, and I don't want to be an apprentice either."

"Then what do you want to do?"

"I want to be a constable just like you, Brother Lou, all swagger and glory."

"Call me uncle!" Chen Chen Guanlou kept a straight face.

"You're only a few years older than me. What right do you have to be called uncle?"

"You want to be a constable, don't you? Then call me uncle, and I'll help you."

"Really?"

"When have I ever tricked you?"

"Uncle Lou, you really will help me." The little brat Da Wang climbed right up the pole with perfect ease.

Chen Chen Guanlou laughed. "Good nephew. You want to be a constable, but you're still too young. But you can try being a hanger-on first. In a couple of years, when you're old enough, we'll find a way to make you a constable."

"Can I be a hanger-on right now?"

"It means tagging along to learn the ropes, barely any pay, up before dawn and home after dark. Willing?"

"I'm willing!" Da Wang declared with ringing resolve.

"Think it through clearly. Don't just fixate on the thief eating meat — you never see the thief getting beaten. The hanger-on's job is no easy work. Taking a beating is guaranteed, playing the grandson is a required skill, and flattery and toadying are unavoidable. You little punk, can you stomach that kind of grievance?" Chen Chen Guanlou asked with a smile.

Da Wang seemed to have made up his mind. "I can do it! Uncle Lou, please help me out. Every day it's either running errands with my dad or running errands with my mom — no money earned, no skills learned, but plenty of grievances taken. Two years as a hanger-on, then I can be a proper constable. It's just bowing and scraping like a grandson — I can handle it."

"Fine! That kind of resolve is good. In a few days, when I'm free, I'll find someone to take you along for a couple of days, let you get used to it. If you can take the hardship, I'll formally arrange a hanger-on's post for you, let you learn the work at the yamen."

"Thank you, Uncle Lou! Uncle Lou, you sit down — cleaning is my specialty, let me do it, let me do it. How could I let you tire yourself out. Uncle Lou, want some tea? I'll brew you a pot…"

In an instant, Da Wang transformed into a snail maiden, taking over all the cleaning work and scrubbing the Chen household spotless from inside and out. When he was done, he didn't even eat, didn't ask for any reward, closed the courtyard gate, and left on his own.

Chen Chen Guanlou watched him go. This little rascal — looks like he really could handle the hanger-on's work. If he did well, securing a constable's post in the future shouldn't be a problem.

Inside and out, the house was clean and comfortable.

Sipping his wine, nibbling his snacks, life was plain but suffused with peace and beauty. He hummed a little tune, tapped out the beat, and found his own joy.

Bang bang bang — the courtyard gate was hammered hard.

Chen Chen Guanlou glanced at the sky — pitch black. Who could possibly be coming to find him at this hour? He'd already given word at the imperial prison: even if the sky fell, it would have to wait until first thing tomorrow morning.

He rose to open the courtyard gate.

The door had barely opened when a figure collapsed straight in.

Pan Pan Niangzi?!

He looked at the person in his arms — never in a thousand years had he expected it to be Pan Pan Niangzi. He quickly carried her back inside, laid her on the bed, and forced half a cup of hot water into her.

After a moment, she slowly came to, but her face was pale as snow.

"What happened? How could you…" Chen Guanlov gently stroked her cheek, too many questions.

How had Pan Pan Niangzi entered the palace, what had she done there, and how had she gotten out? Her current condition was clearly poisoning. She herself was a master poisoner — yet she had been poisoned.

"Have you been poisoned? Can it be cured? What should I do to help you?"

Pan Pan Niangzi, however, seized his hand in a death grip, gazing at him with tear-filled eyes, slowly shook her head, and with great difficulty forced out a few words: "It's too late. Jingcheng is vast, but I could only come to you. Hold me tight."

Chen Chen Guanlou gathered her up and held her close against his chest. "Still cold?"

Pan Pan Niangzi managed a faint smile. "Not cold anymore!" She raised a hand and let it rest on his cheek. "My deepest regret in this life is that I never met you sooner."

Chen Chen Guanlou gave her a smile. "It's not too late even now."

"Too late!" Pan Pan Niangzi said weakly. "Everything is too late."

"Tell me — who poisoned you? Is there really no cure? I know a master detoxifier. He has an ancestral antidote pill on hand — it can cure any poison."

"No use. I myself am a master poisoner, I—" A mouthful of fresh blood sprayed out, drops of crimson spattering across her lapels.

"I'm sorry for dirtying your clothes."

"What kind of time is it to be saying things like that?" Chen Chen Guanlou used a hot towel to wipe the blood from her lips. "Is there really no saving you?"

Pan Pan Niangzi shook her head. "Everything is too late."

"Was it Qi Qi Laoda? Where is he? I'll take you to find him."

"He, he's… don't go looking for him, you're no match for him. He actually… his identity is actually…"

"What is it?"

Pan Pan Niangzi's eyes went wide, and Chen Chen Guanlou saw a terror that cut to the bone in them. She was terrified of Boss Qi. Even in death she would not dare speak a single word about Boss Qi's true identity.

Chen Chen Guanlou would not give up. He gripped Pan Pan Niangzi's jaw. "I know you snuck into the Imperial Palace. What did you do inside the palace? Was the old Emperor's death connected to you? Did Boss Qi arrange for you to enter the palace and order you to do it?"

"You… you actually know."

"Of course I know. I know everything. Tell me — tell me the whole truth. Whether or not I'm Boss Qi's match, I can judge that myself. I value my life more than anyone. You don't need to worry that I'll throw an egg against a stone, overreach myself. Speak! Pan Pan Niangzi, for the sake of these days we've had together, tell me, won't you?"