Chapter 77: Canhe Manor

Zhao Ti surveyed Canhe Manor; to the left were many water willows, to the right numerous lotuses and ice orchids floated on the surface, yet the layout was not bad.

At this moment, a man bowed and spoke in a low voice: "Your Highness, this subordinate senses a formation here."

"Oh?" Zhao Ti looked at this man; he was Zhu Zhu Chuyi, a martial artist Zhou Dong had gathered from the Jianghu, the master of the Eight Mysterious Gates in Haozhou, Huainan Western Circuit.

"You understand formations?"

"Your Highness, this subordinate's Wu Gong is not very useful, but having taken a master from the Mysterious Gates, I usually enjoy studying various formations, traps, mechanisms, ambushes, yin-yang matters, residential houses, and tombs; I have dabbled in all of them."

"You have learned quite a mix." Zhao Ti glanced at this Zhu Zhu Chuyi; he was well-proportioned, his temperament cultivated very well, showing a certain uprightness, with a lock of black beard; if he wore a Taoist robe, he would have a touch of immortal air and Taoist bone.

"This subordinate has studied for years, yet it is often of little use; the Eight Mysterious Gates only look at yin and yang houses in the Haozhou area, calculate travel almanacs for passing Jianghu friends, and discuss taboos..." Zhu Zhu Chuyi said.

"That is indeed a waste of talent." Zhao Ti nodded: "What is the significance of this manor?"

Hearing Zhao Ti's inquiry, Zhu Zhu Chuyi could not help but show joy; he came from humble origins, wandered in his youth, life was unsmooth, he fell into the grasslands, and had calculated for himself more than once that he had only one chance for rise in his life, which should fall in his forty-eighth year.

So from the beginning of the year he sent people to inquire everywhere, not knowing where to start changing his fate, until the imperial army passed through the capital, flying the royal banner, he was suddenly overjoyed; even if Zhou Dong had not come to recruit, he would have volunteered to go.

Along the way, he sought the right moment to show himself, but it did not come; seeing Canhe Manor before his eyes, he immediately sensed opportunity and quickly spoke up.

"Your Highness, this subordinate observes this manor is of a water-born pattern, governing the continuation of descendants, with a thread of ancestral qi protecting endless blessings..."

Zhao Ti snorted coldly; Zhu Zhu Chuyi immediately stopped speaking, not knowing where he had spoken wrongly.

"Mr. Zhu, continue speaking." Zhao Ti said indifferently.

Hearing the title "Mr.," Zhu Zhu Chuyi could not help but feel joy again; he had spent half his life in the Jianghu, meeting mostly similar rough people, where could he deserve to be called "Mr."? In Haozhou City, there was a fifth-rank household whose head served as an official in the court; once he came to calculate the location of a lost pet dog, he was merely called "Old Zhu."

Now, being called "Mr." by a reigning prince, he nearly wept; if he truly rose to prominence in the future, he would surely return to Haozhou to look, and show off in front of that fifth-rank household, never wearing brocade at night.

"Your Highness, this water-born pattern is generally paired with the Six Yin Rhombus Net Formation; there are rhombus nets under the water on all sides, iron caltrops inside the walls, trees and flowers within the manor all contain traps, and various mechanisms in the rooms are mainly based on lotus seeds and caltrops; even the inner paths have marked signs."

Hearing this, Zhao Ti said: "If we do not crush it with soldiers, how long would it take to break?"

Zhu Zhu Chuyi said: "With disciples helping, it would take three days; if no one helps and this subordinate breaks it alone, roughly seven days or more."

Zhao Ti pondered for a few breaths and said: "Knock on the door."

The Water Camp Commander stepped forward and knocked on the door ring; after a long while, footsteps approached inside, and an old servant opened the manor gate.

The Water Camp Commander, following Zhao Ti's instructions, said: "Is Young Master Murong at home?"

The old servant glanced at him, then looked at the crowd behind, and shook his head: "Commander, you are mistaken; where is there a Young Master Murong here?"

The Water Camp Commander said: "You are joking; I am not here for the first time; it is just a registration in the prefecture, a mere formality. Originally, finding Miss Abi at Qin Yun Cottage would have been enough, but Miss Abi is not here, and Miss A Zhu at the Fragrant Water Pavilion ahead is also not here, so I can only come here to ask."

"Commander knows Abi and A Zhu?" The old servant's expression softened: "Perhaps they went into the city to buy sugar cakes; little girl Abi is the most gluttonous, and A Zhu is clever and quirky, but it is unlikely they went out together; perhaps they went to Lady's side..."

The Water Camp Commander said: "How would I know that? Is the Young Master at home? Or perhaps Great Hero Gong Ye would suffice."

The old servant shook his head: "The Young Master went out a few months ago and has not returned; matters have been entrusted to A Zhu and Abi to handle."

The Water Camp Commander showed an anxious expression: "The prefecture is pressing urgently; I must go to other islands shortly; having the register with the number of people is enough; I cannot wait for the two young ladies A Zhu and Abi to return."

The old servant said: "Since it is an official matter, it is not good to delay; when the Young Master left, he said if there were matters in the prefecture, we should treat them well; I remember there seem to be a few registers; I will fetch them for the Commander to see."

The Water Camp Commander said: "Go quickly, go quickly; my heart is burning like fire."

The old servant turned and went back into the manor; in a moment, he brought out a register: "Commander, please see if this can be used?"

The Water Camp Commander flipped through it slightly and nodded: "This will do; it is just to handle the matter on the surface; would Li Xianggong in Fuzhou personally review it? It just makes life hard for us messengers like me."

The old servant smiled: "It is trouble for the Commander to make the trip; if the Young Master were at home, he would surely invite you in for tea; since the Young Master is not here, I do not know the protocol for hosting guests." Having said this, he extended a black money bag.

The Water Camp Commander's body paused, his mouth twitched, and he skillfully took it and tucked it into his robe.

He turned to leave, then added: "By the way, a Western Region Monk recently arrived in the prefecture; he is fat-headed and big-eared, with oil shining on his face, specializing in abducting handsome young men; be sure to be careful if you see him; tell Miss Abi to find me at the lakeside military camp."

The old servant was stunned: "A Western Region Monk? Abducting handsome young men? What is the meaning of this?"

The Water Camp Commander said: "Hey, who knows if he is a real monk or a fake monk; anyway, with such a strange appearance, perhaps he is a Flower Monk."

The old servant shook his head: "If we see him, we will surely report to the authorities; Commander, please rest assured."

Zhao Ti saw that the old servant did not seem to be pretending and thought silently: Murong Fu not being at home is normal, but why is Ji Mo Zhi not here either? Did the original events still occur, with Ji Mo Zhi being teased by A Zhu and Abi at Qin Yun Cottage, after which the two took Duan Yu to Mantuo Manor?

The Water Camp Commander returned; Zhao Ti ordered them to go to the shore, and the group boarded the boat.

The Water Camp Commander took out the money bag he had just received, which contained large coins worth ten, and whispered: "Your Highness, this official, this official..."

Zhao Ti glanced at him: "Do you know Mantuo Manor?"

The Water Camp Commander lowered his head: "This official knows; that place is full of women; this humble one has gone there several times but never set foot on shore."

Zhao Ti said: "Is it also a relative of the Wang family in Suzhou?"

The Water Camp Commander said: "That place claims to be even closer than Canhe Manor; the late male head was a member of the Wang family."

Zhao Ti nodded, looked at the rippling blue lake surface: "Go to Mantuo Manor."

The Water Camp Commander breathed a sigh of relief and quickly commanded the boats to sail toward the depths of Taihu.

At this time, the soldiers rowed with all their might; the water rippled with a thousand waves, reflecting the sunlight, looking extremely beautiful; flowers and reeds mixed with fresh water mist floated in the gentle breeze, making one feel relaxed and happy.

No one knew how long they traveled; the sky gradually turned to afternoon; ahead, lush and green, with crisp tender green branches swaying, there were thousands of water willows; then turning aside, one saw flowers and trees reflecting the water, bright as colorful clouds.

The Water Camp Commander bowed and said: "Your Highness, Mantuo Manor has arrived."