Chapter 57: No Restrictions

They saw the Imperial Guard squad quickly surround the alley, then light torches and shout: "What commotion is happening inside, making such a racket? Drop your weapons and do not move!"

Zhao Ti and the other two approached now, seeing clearly it was a unit of a hundred men; a normal night patrol consists of ten soldiers, so a hundred is extremely rare.

The squad leader drew his waist sword at the front and shouted loudly: "No matter which gang is inside, drop your tools, or we will exterminate you without mercy."

"Young Master, the man on the horse is not old, and his attire does not look like that of an Imperial Guard officer," Bai Zhan said.

Zhao Ti glanced at the tall brown horse beside the squad; it was clearly a war horse. War horses are scarce in this dynasty, mostly purchased from outside. Relations with Western Xia have been tense these past few years, making Qingtang horses hard to buy. The court ordered officials not to keep them, and certainly not for commoners to privately hoard.

The rider was young, wearing brocade, pointing into the alley: "Too bold, simply too bold! They all deserve to die, all of them!"

Zhao Ti's lips curled slightly. At this moment, the soldiers ahead saw the three of them and immediately shouted: "Who goes there? Stop at once!"

Bai Zhan pulled out his badge and flashed it: "The Imperial City Bureau is on duty, patrolling the capital region; all is permitted!"

The soldiers were stunned by these words. The squad leader at the alley entrance hurriedly ran over and said: "So it is the Bureau Guard. What noble business brings you here so late?"

Bai Zhan said: "Night patrols of the Imperial Guard are ten men per squad. Why have so many of you gathered here?"

The squad leader said: "Bureau Guard, we are capturing gang criminals; a small number won't suffice!"

Bai Zhan said: "That is strange. Why not catch them during the day, but insist on catching them at night?"

The squad leader smiled awkwardly: "Bureau Guard, you do not know. If nothing happens during the day, how can we catch anyone? Only when trouble arises at night can we bring people in for arrest."

"Trouble arises at night..." Bai Zhan said: "Just now, I was watching from the bridge over there. The commotion in the alley lasted only two or three quarters of an hour. Not only did you receive the news in time, but you also managed to gather ten squads of soldiers to arrive so quickly. Could it be that you are specifically guarding this alley? Providing support and cover for those inside, seeking shade under a great tree?"

The squad leader hurriedly shook his head: "Bureau Guard, what are you saying? Absolutely not, absolutely not!"

At this moment, the young man on the tall brown horse turned his horse around and said urgently: "Squad Leader Qu, go in and catch the criminals at once. Otherwise, those bandits will all climb over the walls and escape. The Imperial City Bureau has no jurisdiction over the Imperial Guard catching thieves, so do not talk to him any further."

The squad leader's lips twitched. He thought to himself that while the Imperial City Bureau indeed has no jurisdiction over the Imperial Guard's normal duties, it would not do to offend them. After all, they all mingle in the city during the day; who knows when they might meet again.

Bai Zhan heard this and said: "Who are you, to dare command the Imperial Guard?"

The young man on the horse did not even look at him and said impatiently: "Do not think the Imperial City Bureau can control everyone? Do you not see who I, Young Master, am? Retreat immediately."

Bai Zhan said: "How bold! The Imperial City Bureau acts on the Emperor's orders. Without entering the court offices, regardless of who it is, even the Imperial Guard is subject to our supervision. Who are you to order the Imperial City Bureau to retreat!"

The young man, angered, said: "Who am I? My father is the current Right Chancellor. My uncle is the Governor and Commissioner of Dingzhou Circuit. Dare your Imperial City Bureau investigate my family? Even if you wish to investigate, you must enter the palace to request permission from the Grand Empress Dowager!"

Hearing this, Bai Zhan furrowed his brows. It turned out to be the son of Su Zhe and the nephew of Su Shi. Su Zhe currently serves as Vice Minister of the Department of State Affairs and Vice Minister of the Gate of the Department of State Affairs, ranking among the chief ministers, and is quite favored. He is a confidant of the Grand Empress Dowager Gao Taotao.

"As the son of Minister Su, you dare command the Imperial Guard?" Bai Zhan said coldly.

"Hmph! Your Imperial City Bureau is best at luring people into speaking. I did not command anyone; I merely reported thieves!" The young man's eyes rolled: "The Imperial Guard catches thieves, and you still want to supervise? Are you perhaps in league with the thieves? I will return and tell my father to go to the palace and impeach you before the Grand Empress Dowager!"

"How arrogant!" Bai Zhan said, his face like cold frost: "Do you hold an official rank to walk in the company of the Imperial Guard?"

The young man said: "Whether I hold an official rank or not is none of your business. If you have the ability, go ask my father!"

"Hu'er..." At this moment, a voice sounded leisurely behind Bai Zhan.

"Who, who calls my childhood name?" The young man on the horse shouted angrily. His formal name is Su Yuan, and his childhood name is Hu'er. He is the youngest son of Su Zhe, but no one dares to call him by his childhood name except for the elders in the family.

"Hu'er!" The voice came again.

"You, try calling it again?" Su Yuan's face flushed red on the horse. He rubbed his eyes to look carefully, hearing only that the voice came from behind the Imperial City Bureau Guard in front.

"Hu'er! Get off the horse at once!"

"I... you call again!" Su Yuan was furious but did not dare to speak rashly. Those who know his childhood name are either elders or close relatives and friends.

"Hu'er..."

Su Yuan's shoulders trembled with anger. He stared with wide eyes. Although there was a moon in the sky, it was half-covered by black clouds, making everything hazy and indistinct, illuminated only by the torches.

Zhao Ti was behind Bai Zhan. He had recognized Su Yuan long ago. This younger son of Su Zhe had previously entered the palace to study alongside Zhao Ji and had an extremely close relationship with him.

He was also somewhat familiar with the other party, but not close, because he had beaten Su Yuan several times.

Su Yuan, while studying in the palace, would shake his head and mouth, full of classical particles like "zhi, hu, ye, zhe," composing pretentious poems with Zhao Ji and others. When he wanted Zhao Ti to join in, Zhao Ti did not wish to waste words with such nonsense. When the other party persisted, he gave him a thorough beating.

Who would have thought that later, he would not learn his lesson and actually use poems to mock him, so he was beaten again.

After that, Su Yuan stopped entering the palace. It was heard that he began practicing with spears and clubs at home. Su Zhe scolded him, but he would not listen. It seemed he wanted to master martial arts to seek revenge?

Zhao Ti stepped forward slowly and said indifferently: "Hu'er, I heard you have been practicing martial arts at home these past few years. Are you looking to spar with this Prince?"

"Ah?!" Su Yuan was stunned on the horse, then his face changed drastically: "You, Yan, Yan Wang..."

"Get down!"

"I..." He "thumped" down from the horse. Afterwards, he seemed to want to turn and run, but dared not, standing there at a loss.

"Did you organize the Three Parts Society? Practicing martial arts at home and forming a gang; what do you intend to do?"

Zhao Ti snorted. The Imperial Guard heard the distinction and saluted one by one. The squad leader, standing aside, cried out bitterly in his heart but dared not make a sound, only lowering his head, wishing he could bury his body in the ground.

"I, I..." Su Yuan's face turned pale.

"And the Three Parts Hall? Do you want to divide the Eastern Capital into three, or divide the world into three?"

"Your Highness, I was just playing around. I..."

"Tomorrow, this Prince will go ask Minister Su what you intend to do! A family of chief ministers, yet producing a scoundrel like you who ruins the family reputation!"

"Ah?" Su Yuan "crashed" to his knees: "Your Highness, please do not! My father... my father will beat me to death."

"Do not?" Zhao Ti looked at him and said: "Speak. Who is instigating you from behind!"

"No one is instigating me." Su Yuan shook his head: "I heard a storyteller outside. At the Ding Family Vegetarian Tea House in front of Xiangguo Temple, a new storyteller named Huo Sijiu appeared. He wrote a picture book about the Three Parts, telling the stories of Cao Wei and Ji Han from the late Eastern Han Dynasty. I thought the name sounded good, so I borrowed it."

"Privately using war horses, colluding with gangs, and directing the Imperial Guard—these crimes are not as simple as Minister Su giving you a beating. If this reaches the court, Minister Su will be impeached!"

"Ah?" Su Yuan was stunned for a moment, then suddenly burst into loud weeping: "Your Highness, please, do not let my father know."

"Then tell me, how did you organize this Three Parts Society? Where did you meet those gang members?" Zhao Ti's lips curved slightly.

"Your Highness, I, I..." Su Yuan said: "Someone in Prince Duan's entourage knows people. Knowing I wanted to become a gang leader in the Jianghu, they mediated and searched for connections. I only provided the money for support..."