Before his words were finished, Du Ruhui had already grabbed him by the collar and pressed him against the wall, saying coldly: “Speak, why did you go to Changfeng Gambling House?”

“Didn’t I already tell you? That day…” His words were cut off halfway as his neck was suddenly gripped tightly, making it impossible for him to breathe. His face quickly turned red, and he desperately tried to pry off Du Ruhui’s hands, but the latter’s grip was like iron pincers, completely immovable. Just when he thought he would be strangled to death, the hand suddenly loosened. Bai San immediately gasped for air in large gulps. After catching his breath, he touched his aching neck with lingering fear, looking at Du Ruhui with eyes full of terror. “What exactly do you want?”

Du Ruhui said expressionlessly: “Very simple. I want to hear the truth. Tell me, why exactly did you go to the gambling house?”

“I…” Bai San had only said one word when he hurriedly shook his head: “No, I can’t say it, or they’ll kill me!”

Du Ruhui’s heart sank. The theft was indeed not a coincidence. In fact, just moments before, he had only suspected Bai San but wasn’t certain. Now his guess had been confirmed.

“If you don’t speak, you’ll die right now!” Du Ruhui’s words made Bai San’s whole body tremble. Then he said with false bravado: “You don’t need to frighten me here. This… this is at the feet of the Son of Heaven.”

“If you don’t believe it, feel free to test it. But… don’t regret it.” As he spoke, Du Ruhui curved his lips into a smile, the cold smile as terrifying as an evil ghost from hell, completely breaking through Bai San’s psychological defenses. He said in a trembling voice: “I… I’ll tell you, don’t kill me!”

“Speak!” Under Du Ruhui’s urging, Bai San swallowed and said: “The day before, I was wandering on the street and saw someone with a bulging money pouch at his waist. I thought to steal it, but instead I was caught by him. He said he’d give me two choices: either report to the authorities, or help him steal the money pouches of two people. If successful, he’d give me two guan of money as reward. When I heard I didn’t have to go to prison and could get two guan of money, I agreed. After all, it was just stealing two money pouches – not much of a difficult task.”

“The next morning, he came to find me and told me to go to Changfeng Gambling House in the afternoon to steal the money pouches of Wu A’Li and Zhao Laojiu.” He then added hastily: “But I really didn’t think that incident would indirectly cause those two to be beaten to death. If I had known, I wouldn’t have gone to steal even if you killed me.”

Du Ruhui ignored his words and only asked: “Who was that person?”

“I don’t know. He didn’t tell me anything.” Fearing Du Ruhui wouldn’t believe him, he hurriedly added: “If I’m lying to you, let me be caught and imprisoned for life.”

Du Ruhui pondered for a moment, then asked: “Do you still remember what he looked like?” After Bai San nodded, he dragged the latter into the house, found paper and brush, and had Bai San describe the man’s appearance in as much detail as possible. After drawing seven or eight sketches, Bai San finally said: “Yes, yes, yes, that’s exactly what he looked like.”

Bai San’s identification made Du Ruhui clench his fists. He recognized this person – it was Cui Ji’s bodyguard Cui Yongzhong. After going in such a big circle, it ultimately came back to Cui Ji. Was it really him? Why would he do such a thing?

Du Ruhui crumpled the paper into a ball and held it in his hand, getting up to leave. Just as Bai San was breathing a sigh of relief, he stopped and said: “If you don’t want to die, immediately go to the Du residence on Yeliu Lane. When you see the gatekeeper, just say Du Ruhui sent you, and he’ll naturally let you in.”

Bai San said with a bitter face: “My lord, I’ve already told you everything I know. Please spare me.”

Du Ruhui turned around and sneered: “I’m trying to save you. If you continue to stay here, someone will come to kill you within a day!” With that, he strode away.

Bai San’s face turned pale. Right, how could he have forgotten? That person had said that once the matter was leaked, he would take his life. Thinking of this, Bai San quickly packed his belongings and money into a bundle and hurriedly left the house to go to the place Du Ruhui had mentioned.

Now, after Du Ruhui left Bai San’s house, he immediately went to the Cui residence. He waited in the East Flower Hall for a while before seeing Cui Ji come in. Perhaps because he was about to become a prince consort, Cui Ji looked radiant and in excellent spirits. As soon as he entered, he smiled and said: “I kept Brother Du waiting. There are really too many things to prepare.”

Du Ruhui smiled: “I understand. Are they all arranged?”

Cui Ji replied: “They’re all arranged, except for one thing.”

“What is it?” Facing Du Ruhui’s question, Cui Ji smiled: “I still need two people to accompany me into the palace tomorrow to welcome the princess. I wonder if Brother Du and Brother Pei would be willing to help with this?”

Du Ruhui looked at that gentle, smiling face and couldn’t connect him with Zheng Yang’s death no matter what. But… everything he had investigated pointed to the person before him.

Not seeing him respond, Cui Ji asked puzzledly: “What’s wrong? Brother Du doesn’t want to?”

Du Ruhui smiled: “Of course not. I’m just feeling emotional that my brother is about to become a prince consort.”

Cui Ji smiled: “For me, whether I’m a prince consort or not isn’t important. What’s important is that I can marry the princess. From the day I met the princess, I’ve been looking forward to tomorrow’s moment.” He then said: “Since I have some free time now, Brother Du, accompany me to the Pei residence to tell Brother Pei about tomorrow’s matter.”

Du Ruhui didn’t move and said indifferently: “No need to go. Not to mention entering the palace to welcome the princess, even if you asked him to climb mountains of swords and descend into seas of fire, he would definitely agree.”

Cui Ji was stunned by his words, then smiled: “Even so, I still need to notify Brother Pei.”

Du Ruhui glanced at the bodyguard following behind Cui Ji and said: “Has Brother Cui ever done anything in his life that goes against his conscience?”

Cui Ji asked in surprise: “Why does Brother Du suddenly ask this?”

“Please answer, Brother Cui.” Seeing him say this, Cui Ji shook his head: “No. I can say with confidence that since I’ve been sensible, everything I’ve done has been worthy of my conscience.”

Du Ruhui nodded. Just as Cui Ji thought the matter was over, he suddenly threw the paper ball at Cui Ji’s face, saying coldly: “Then what about this?”

His action left Cui Ji bewildered. After picking up the paper ball and unfolding it, he exchanged glances with Cui Yongzhong beside him and asked puzzledly: “How does Brother Du have a portrait of Yongzhong?”

“This was drawn according to Bai San’s description. It was the person in the portrait who told him to go to Changfeng Gambling House to steal the money pouches of Wu A’Li and Zhao Laojiu.”

Cui Ji stared at Du Ruhui: “Brother Du, don’t tell me you think I sent Yongzhong to steal those two people’s money pouches? Tell me, why would I do such a thing? For the money on them?”

“The Cui family is one of the Seven Clans and Five Surnames of the Great Sui Dynasty. How could they care about such small change? Not to mention you, Young Master Cui, even this bodyguard Cui Yongzhong would look down on it.” He then said: “Oh right, I forgot to mention something. Not long after, Wu A’Li and the other man were beaten to death by people from the gambling house. Coincidentally, their fatal injuries were all to the back of their heads. Even more coincidentally, when the incident occurred, someone went to help them up.”

Cui Ji frowned: “Brother Du, if you have something to say, please speak directly.”