Chapter 70: The Maid (Requesting Follows)

At the sound of the commotion, Yang Yunchong did not turn his head; he began muttering silently, moving only his lips without a sound.

Zhao Ti said coldly: “Yang Yunchong, what position do you hold in the Ming Cult?”

“Ah?” Yang Yunchong flinched at the words, crying out in shock; his martial power gone, he collapsed onto the ground.

“I don’t know anything about the Ming Cult!”

Hou San grabbed him and spun him around: “I’ve suspected you from the start—you’re one of those gangster types! The Young Master is asking you a question—answer honestly!”

Zhao Ti chuckled: “Now there are members of the Ming Cult who’ve come to the capital to recruit followers and joined my service—they mentioned your name and said you’re one of them too.”

“Who dares betray...” Yang Yunchong began, then realized his slip: “I don’t know anything about the Ming Cult!”

Zhao Ti gave a faint sneer; Yang Yunchong immediately lowered his head: “I, I...”

“You don’t recognize the old man with white eyebrows and white hair? But he recognizes you—he said your rank in the Cult is high!”

Yang Yunchong’s face turned ashen: “The old man with white eyebrows and white hair?”

Zhao Ti nodded: “Do you remember who he is now?”

“I, I really don’t know! I only came to the capital to seek relatives!”

“Still spouting nonsense—you already slipped up, and now denying it is too late!” Hou San slapped Yang Yunchong twice across the face.

“I give you two days to decide: join me and enjoy wealth and honor—or...” Zhao Ti smiled, then slowly turned and walked out the door.

Yang Yunchong watched the man’s retreating back, slumped on the ground, his mind in chaos—the image of the white-browed, white-haired old man was unmistakable: it was Yin Mu-chang, the Ascetic of the White Rainbow Sword from within the Cult. But how could he have defected and betrayed his own? Just now, that corrupt official called himself... “this Prince”?

After leaving the Jin Feng Tower’s back courtyard, Zhou Dong waited with his horse. Zhao Ti got into the carriage: “To the Duan Prince’s Mansion!”

Though he was already ninety percent certain the little maid wouldn’t remain in Zhao Ji’s residence, he still had to go and confirm it himself.

After a while, they arrived at the Duan Prince’s Mansion gate; Zhao Ti stepped down.

The guards on the steps looked alarmed and hurriedly bowed: “Your Highness has come...”

Zhao Ti asked: “Is the Duan Prince in the mansion?”

The guard captain smiled nervously: “Yes, yes, Your Highness wishes to see the Duan Prince?”

Zhao Ti glanced at him—it was the same imperial guard who had tumbled down the steps last time—and smiled: “Do I need to be announced?”

“No, no, Your Highness, please, please...” he said “no,” yet his feet rushed ahead into the mansion, then he sprinted inside.

Zhao Ti and Zhou Dong walked forward without obstruction, heading straight for the study.

Near the study, they saw the guard captain gasping, tongue out, emerging from within; Zhao Ji followed, appearing in sight. Seeing Zhao Ti, he scowled and stood upright.

“Prince Yan, what brings you to my mansion again?”

Zhao Ti ignored him, walked closer, and entered the study directly; Zhao Ji had no choice but to step aside, muttering angrily: “My mansion does not welcome you—leave immediately, or I’ll report you to the Zongzheng Temple for trespassing!”

Zhao Ti sat down without ceremony, then looked at Zhao Ji: “Eleventh Brother, I have a question for you.”

Zhao Ji’s face tightened with suspicion; he blinked: “What question?”

Zhao Ti said: “Sit down first.”

Zhao Ji frowned: “Just ask quickly so you can leave—I’m leaving the mansion immediately after.”

Zhao Ti’s lips curled slightly: “How many maids do you have in your mansion?”

“What?” Zhao Ji jumped up: “Prince Yan, last time you stole so many of my treasures—now you’re escalating? You want to steal people too?”

Zhao Ti rubbed his chin: “Steal people? This is a matter of life and death—you must answer truthfully.”

Zhao Ji snapped: “Don’t scare me! Life and death? I know you—last time when you attacked, you saw my maids were pretty and set your sights on them. Now you’re escalating, trying to seize them!”

Zhao Ti’s expression darkened: “Surely you’ve heard what duties I’ve been assigned lately.”

Zhao Ji blinked: “Isn’t it the Ghost Fan Tower?”

Zhao Ti said: “Some fugitives escaped from the Ghost Fan Tower and are hiding in noble households. I’ve issued wanted portraits of the captured criminals—and one resembles a maid from your mansion. That’s why I’ve come to check.”

“Y-you’re exaggerating! Where did these Ghost Fan Tower fugitives even come from?” Zhao Ji stared, stunned.

“I’m acting out of brotherly affection by coming to check. Even if I didn’t check, what would it matter?” Zhao Ti sneered.

“I... I don’t believe this. Prince Yan, you’re surely deceiving me...” Zhao Ji’s eyes darted, hesitating.

“Since Eleventh Brother doesn’t believe me, I’ll leave.” Zhao Ti smiled faintly, stood, and walked toward the door, saying as he went: “The Ghost Fan Tower criminals kill without mercy, feast on human hearts and livers, peel skin and strip tendons—often at dead of night...”

“P-Prince Yan...” Zhao Ji called out as Zhao Ti reached the door.

“Eleventh Brother has something else?” Zhao Ti turned.

“Are there really Ghost Fan Tower people out there?” Zhao Ji breathed sharply.

“No.” Zhao Ti continued walking out.

“P-Prince Yan.”

Zhao Ti didn’t stop.

“E-Eighth Brother...” Zhao Ji ran ahead, smiling obsequiously: “Brother, I spoke disrespectfully just now—don’t be angry. Was what you said just now truly true?”

Zhao Ti stopped and looked at him: “I interrogated the captured criminals. They planned a major operation—to kidnap a prince and take him underground in Dongjing. They sent young girls to infiltrate royal households, waiting for their chance.”

“Then the maid you mentioned...”

“The criminal’s sketch matches a maid in your mansion. Have them all come out—I’ll examine them. If any are confirmed as criminals, arrest them immediately.”

Zhao Ji shouted to Li Yan, who stood nearby, head ducked: “Summon every maid from every courtyard—leave none out!”

Li Yan ran off to deliver the order; after a while, a crowd of fifty or sixty maids came rushing in.

Zhao Ti scanned each one, from head to toe, frowning—none of them.

He asked: “Did the Duan Prince summon all the maids?”

Zhao Ji said: “Eighth Brother, let me count them—I don’t know them all by name, only how many there are.”

Zhao Ti nodded, puzzled—the girl he’d seen that night couldn’t have been a family member; her attire was clearly that of a maid.

After a moment, Zhao Ji said: “Eighth Brother, all are here—not one more, not one less.”

Zhao Ti fell silent for a moment; Zhao Ji patted his chest: “Eighth Brother, there aren’t any Ghost Fan Tower criminals among them, right? You scared me half to death!”

Zhao Ti said: “Eleventh Brother, come with me into the room.”

Zhao Ji, confused, followed inside. He saw Zhao Ti standing by the desk, picking up a brush and beginning to sketch on paper.

Zhao Ji watched for a few breaths, then gasped in astonishment: “Eighth Brother, how can your brushwork be so miraculous? I’ve never seen such an astonishing technique...”

Zhao Ti said: “Stop wasting time—look at this girl. Do you recognize her?” He sketched the little maid’s face and figure, then pointed it to Zhao Ji.

Zhao Ji stared, then drew a deep breath: “Eighth Brother, where did you meet such a beauty? Why is she dressed as a maid? Tell me her background—if she’s not betrothed, I’ll marry her immediately—even make her my Princess Consort!”

Zhao Ti narrowed his eyes: “You truly don’t recognize her?”

Zhao Ji said: “How could I recognize her? Tell me her origin, and I...”

“Eighth Brother, don’t leave! You...”

Zhao Ti ignored him, walked straight out the mansion gate—the little maid wasn’t from the Duan Prince’s mansion, yet she appeared there. Only one answer: she came to find someone, disguised to seek out someone in the mansion!

The Duan Prince’s mansion did have Ming Cult spies, but further investigation was impossible—this mansion held hundreds of people; there was no time to investigate them all.

Outside, Zhou Dong asked: “Where to, my lord?”

Zhao Ti paused, thinking: “To Bazi Shuikou—see what condition the ancient tomb beneath it is in.”