Chapter 318: The Arrest

At the end of the You hour, the streets and alleys of Jining city were already devoid of people. In this era of extremely scarce nightlife, the vast majority of people had already gone to bed. The city was pitch black everywhere, and apart from the occasional dog bark, the entire city seemed to have fallen into slumber.

Yet there was one place in the city that was brightly lit. A three-story wooden building had lanterns of every style lit on each floor, and the building's silhouette, adorned by the lights, appeared exceptionally magnificent. From within, the melodious sounds of zithers and lutes drifted out from time to time, adding a touch of color and vitality to the tranquil night sky.

Various carriages and sedan chairs were parked on the street in front of the small building. The gentry and wealthy merchants of Jining city, as well as those passing through along the Grand Canal, came flocking under cover of darkness, eagerly throwing themselves into the colorful nightlife.

This place was called Cuihong Tower, one of the few brothels in Jining city, and also the one of the highest class. Several courtesans from Jiangnan who resided here possessed extraordinary skill in composing poetry, playing instruments, and singing, and were deeply beloved by officials and literati alike.

Of course, it wasn't only artistic courtesans who made their living by their talents — there were also women who possessed both beauty and skill, offering other kinds of services.

Inside a room of an exquisitely arranged small courtyard in the rear of Cuihong Tower, Lai Yongnian, who had spent the day in a daze, sat bare-chested, exposing a mass of pale white fat, drinking face-to-face with a petite young woman with delicate features dressed in thin gauze. A maidservant of middling looks stood to the side attending to the two.

"Master Lai, do try this squirrel-shaped mandarin fish. This concubine had someone go to the city's Fushou Tower a few days ago and spent ten taels of silver to obtain the secret recipe from the head chef there. This concubine tried making it several times, and only after feeling the taste was acceptable did she make it for Master Lai to enjoy!"

This woman, named Ruyue, came from the famed "slender horses of Yangzhou." After arriving in Jining several months ago, she had taken up residence at Cuihong Tower. Before long, Lai Yongnian, who had come seeking pleasure, spotted her at a glance and that very night spent a hefty sum to become her patron. Having been carefully trained, Ruyue understood Lai Yongnian's background and knew she had encountered a wealthy benefactor. She then used every means to cater to the fat Lai, and soon made Lai Yongnian completely sink into her web of tenderness.

"Heheh! My dear little darling, this old master loves your charming ways! Ten taels of silver? This old master rewards you with a gold hairpin! But later you must satisfy this old master properly! Heheheheh!"

Lai Yongnian picked up a piece of squirrel-shaped mandarin fish with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth. A fresh, fragrant, smooth, and tender flavor immediately began to spread through his mouth.

"Mm mm! It's rare for my little Ruyue to personally cook and prepare soup. The flavor is indeed excellent!"

Lai Yongnian praised while chewing.

"As long as Master enjoys eating it, this concubine will make it for Master every day! But Master must attend to official duties, and also needs to comfort his wives and concubines at home. Even if this concubine wishes to often stay by Master's side, it's not convenient! This poor concubine's heart has been given entirely to Master — not seeing him for a single day brings such longing. Whatever is this concubine to do!"

Before her words even faded, Ruyue's eyes were already brimming with tears. Her fair, slender fingers pinched the corner of a silk handkerchief to dab at the corners of her eyes. Her pitiable appearance made one feel she was too lovely to bear.

Lai Yongnian was both her patron and a man of official standing, and he was also infatuated with her and treated her with great affection. Thus Ruyue's greatest wish at present was to strike while the iron was hot — to marry into the Lai household as a concubine while the two were still deeply in love, so that in the future she could bear Lai Yongnian children and have someone to rely on in old age. That would surely be better than humbling herself in the pleasure trade, eventually losing her beauty with age and ending up lonely and destitute.

A few days earlier she had tactfully raised the matter with Lai Yongnian. His intention was to wait until his six-year term was complete and he returned to the capital before redeeming her, after which he would take her into his household, sell the city residence, and return to the capital together with his other two concubines.

But Ruyue feared that delays would breed trouble — that given enough time, Lai Yongnian might grow weary and abandon her. So she deployed a woman's killer move — playing pitiful — hoping to make Lai Yongnian agree to the matter today.

Ruyue's little trick worked as expected. Seeing the beauty on the verge of tears, Lai Yongnian's heart was immediately filled with tender affection. He beckoned to Ruyue and said: "My little darling, don't cry. Come sit by this old master! This old master agrees to you, alright? Tomorrow this old master will find that Madam Pan, give her the redemption money, and then pick an auspicious day to welcome you into the household! Tonight you must serve this old master well! Heheheheh!"

Ruyue rose and walked over to Lai Yongnian's side, then shyly and coquettishly threw herself into his arms: "Master is so bad! Always making this concubine do such embarrassing things. This concubine won't have it!"

Lai Yongnian looked at the beauty in his arms, her coy and bashful demeanor of feigned resistance, and a blaze of heat suddenly ignited in his heart. He leered and was just about to take Ruyue right there when suddenly — "Bang!" — a sharp crash sounded as the closed door was kicked open from outside by someone. Several warriors in blue armor charged into the room. Ruyue and the maidservant screamed in unison, and Ruyue immediately shrank her body into the mound of fat on Lai Yongnian's torso.

"Who are you people?! Do you know who this official is?! Get out at once! Otherwise don't blame this official for being rude! Secretary Li of the Criminal Section and Constable Zhao of the prefectural office are both close friends of this official!"

Lai Yongnian shoved Ruyue in his arms aside, his body springing up rapidly. Pointing his finger at the intruders, he shouted fiercely with a stern voice.

In the five years he had been in Jining, relying on his official status and his generous, easygoing nature, he had maintained good relations with the powerful section secretaries of the prefectural office, as well as the gentry, great households, and local strongmen. Their interests were all intertwined, forming an inseparable little clique.

"Lai Yongnian? Is that right?"

A dark-faced warrior of about thirty asked in a cold voice.

"It is indeed this official! You may go inquire — this official is not someone just anyone dares to beard! But since we've met, fate has brought us together. If you gentlemen are short on silver, this official can gift each of you fifty taels! How about it?!"

Lai Yongnian had not initially looked closely at the intruders' dress and bearing. In these five years, everything about the capital had gradually faded from his memory. But when he heard the sinister undertone in the other's icy tone, his mind suddenly flashed to that terrifying place. With a trace of desperate hope, he spoke words that even he himself found hopeless.

"Damn you! This master has seen silver by the thousands and tens of thousands — you can save those fifty taels to buy yourself a coffin! We are Embroidered Uniform Guard officers. Lai Yongnian! Your case has come due! Bind him!"

The dark-faced officer waved his hand. Two officers stepped forward and each seized one of Lai Yongnian's arms, while another officer holding a rope hurried up. In an instant, Lai Yongnian, his face ashen and frozen in place, was bound tightly — his mass of fat swallowing the ropes into his mountain of flesh.

After the dark-faced officer gave his order, several officers carried out Lai Yongnian, whose legs had gone too weak to move from fright. Apart from Ruyue and the maidservant, only the dark-faced officer and another very young officer remained.

"What valuables does Lai Yongnian have? Speak honestly! Otherwise I'll throw the two of you in jail!"

The dark-faced officer threatened.

The two women trembled all over with fear. Ruyue barely managed to raise her hand and point at the clothing rack by the wall, where Lai Yongnian's robes were hanging.

The young officer walked over and searched carefully for a while, pulling out several small ingots of silver and a few leaves of gold from inside the robes. Then, with a face full of joy, he ran back to the middle-aged dark-faced officer: "Brother Deng, that's all!"

The dark-faced officer glanced at the items, then grabbed the gold and silver and stuffed them into his bosom. In the young officer's hand remained one silver ingot and one gold leaf. The dark-faced officer said nothing more, turned, and strode away. The young officer hastily hid the gold and silver in his own bosom, glanced back at the pretty, delicate Ruyue once, then followed out the door.