From start to finish, Li Chi had never once asked about Liu Yingyuan or Liu Shanshen — because he had already concluded that Liu Wenju was an old fox.

His instant decision to offer up ten thousand taels of silver made it perfectly clear: this man, while perhaps lacking eight hundred years of age, had accumulated eight hundred years’ worth of cunning.

If Li Chi had asked about Liu Shanshen, Liu Shanshen’s family — who might not yet have been in immediate danger — could very well have met with an “accident” very shortly afterward.

The problem was this: if Li Chi revealed any connection to Liu Shanshen, Liu Wenju would grow alarmed. If Liu Shanshen were to meet with Li Chi, all of Liu Wenju’s misdeeds would come to light. Liu Wenju would never allow Li Chi and Liu Shanshen’s family to come face to face.

So if Li Chi had brought it up, Liu Shanshen’s family would certainly be dead — killed beyond any possibility of testimony. Liu Wenju could maintain to the last that Liu Shanshen’s family had never come to him at all, and Li Chi would have no evidence.

So when Yu Jiuling asked Li Chi why he hadn’t inquired about them and received Li Chi’s explanation, he was more convinced than ever that Li Chi was an old spirit creature of extraordinary age.

“If Liu Wenju has eight hundred years of cunning, you’ve got three thousand.”

Yu Jiuling now admired Li Chi from the very soles of his feet to the crown of his head — admired his mind, admired his character, and admired the fact that Li Chi could urinate further than him.

Li Chi said: “Saving lives comes first. Human lives come first.”

Yu Jiuling said: “If I were in danger someday, would you think of ways to save me like this?”

Li Chi shook his head: “If someone took a liking to you, why would I save you?”

Yu Jiuling said: “Even if it were someone like Liu Wenju?”

Li Chi said: “Why would you think Liu Wenju would take a liking to you?”

Yu Jiuling: “…”

Li Chi said: “Shouldn’t the people who take a liking to you all be beautiful women with money and looks?”

Yu Jiuling said: “That’s fair. Then don’t bother saving me — just let me enjoy the attention.”

Li Chi: “Pah. Men.”

Yu Jiuling laughed heartily. The two returned to the post station and waited a while before Changmei the Daoist and Mister Yan came back as well.

Li Chi wasn’t worried about either of them. For one thing, both old foxes acted with steady restraint — nothing like Li Chi and Yu Jiuling who had gone in specifically looking for trouble. And besides, there were Xinzhou Prefecture watchers providing discreet protection in the shadows.

A fine thing indeed — the very people you intended to bring down were working tirelessly to keep you safe.

Yu Jiuling looked Changmei the Daoist over when he came in, studying his expression carefully, then broke into a grin.

“Daoist, you look about ten years younger today.”

Changmei’s weathered face flushed slightly: “Shut it!”

Yu Jiuling looked over at Mister Yan — he too was glowing with a ruddy, vigorous complexion. Yu Jiuling smiled: “Mister Yan, you’re also looking remarkably refreshed.”

Changmei gave a snort: “Of course he’s refreshed…”

Yu Jiuling leaned in with interest: “Was Mister Yan… was it because he had a pleasant time?”

Changmei snorted again: “Of course he had a pleasant time!”

Li Chi felt something wasn’t quite right here — his master’s tone was off. It sounded rather like a man who had been betrayed by his companion.

Mister Yan smiled: “A small harvest — though not in the way you’re imagining.”

Li Chi asked: “What exactly happened?”

Changmei heaved a sigh and said: “That brothel in Xinzhou City really is something different — so many varieties of entertainment. When Mister Yan and I went in, the people there asked what we desired, and we said to arrange whatever they pleased.”

“Then they asked if we wanted Moon Alone in the Sky, Second Spring Reflecting the Moon, or Three Moons in One Day…”

Changmei continued: “Neither of us wanted to look ignorant. I thought ‘Second Spring Reflecting the Moon’ was a piece of music — sounded rather nice — so I chose that. Mister Yan felt ‘Three Moons in One Day’ had a literary ring to it, so he chose that. As it turned out, what I chose was two companions, and what he chose was three…”

Changmei gripped the armrest of his chair and glared at Yan Qingzhi: “He spent all that silver — and played mahjong with three young women for two full hours. And won all three of them.”

Mister Yan said: “A modest gain, a modest gain. Not worth mentioning. Truly, not worth mentioning.”

Yu Jiuling stared at Mister Yan in utter disbelief. He now genuinely felt that Mister Yan was the most extraordinary old creature he had ever met.

Because only a supernatural being could resist that kind of temptation. Three soft, delicate young women — and he chose to play mahjong!

And won!

Changmei snorted: “He played mahjong without inviting me!”

Li Chi understood now. The reason his master had that air of a man betrayed by his comrade — it was because he’d been left out of the card game.

Yu Jiuling, with careful delicacy, asked Yan Qingzhi: “Mister, was it… is it because…”

Mister Yan could clearly sense that whatever was coming next was not going to be decent. He said with great solemnity: “Stop letting your imagination run wild. I am perfectly capable.”

Yu Jiuling hurriedly said: “Mister, you misunderstand. I’m not saying you’re incapable — I’m wondering if perhaps you simply don’t like women?”

Mister Yan’s eyes went wide: “What nonsense!”

Yu Jiuling said: “But it doesn’t make sense otherwise.”

Mister Yan stared him down. Yu Jiuling quickly said: “I’m sorry, Mister, I shouldn’t have guessed that you’re fond of men. That truly would be an insult to your reputation. I should have just assumed Mister is genuinely not capable…”

Yan Qingzhi launched a kick.

“We did manage to gather some intelligence, however.”

Changmei said: “I had a chat with those two young women. Neither of them entered the brothel willingly, and neither is from Xinzhou originally.”

Li Chi’s brow furrowed. He was beginning to suspect that the guess he had formed earlier was correct.

Changmei continued: “Those two young women — one was from Jizhou, the other from farther away in Yongzhou. Both of their families had been in trade. After arriving in Xinzhou, somehow their families ended up getting pulled into a gambling hall. They lost everything. Then people from the Grand Chrysanthemum Casino said: either leave the daughter here as repayment, or have the whole family killed and dumped in a mass grave outside the city.”

Li Chi now recalled — this was exactly why the casino manager had been able to so casually mention the mass grave outside the city.

Mister Yan said: “The three young women I played mahjong with told similar stories. Either they came to Xinzhou with their families for trade, or they came to visit relatives — and somehow they ended up entangled with the Grand Chrysanthemum Casino, ran up debts too large to repay, and were given the choice between death and selling themselves. So they ended up in the brothel.”

Yu Jiuling looked at Li Chi: “This Liu Wenju — he deserves to be cut to pieces!”

Mister Yan continued: “Once in the brothel, some were first violated by Liu Wenju and then sent up. Others were brought over directly.”

Changmei said: “If not for my kind and venerable face and my talent for patient, gentle persuasion, those women never would have dared say all of this… Oh, by the way, Mister Yan, you have no experience roaming the rivers and lakes, and you have no skill at winning people’s trust. How did you get those women to speak the truth?”

Mister Yan said: “Daoist, you and I are quite different. I rely on an upright bearing.”

Changmei heaved a sigh: “Do you really think me such a debased person? Those poor young women were already in such misery — would an old man like me want to add to their suffering?”

He shook his head: “They still hold out hope that their families will scrape together enough silver to buy their freedom — not knowing that their families have either met with misfortune, or are too afraid to ever return to Xinzhou. Liu Wenju runs this city with Prefect Cui Hansheng’s backing. Here, Liu Wenju is an unchallenged tyrant.”

Mister Yan had played mahjong with three young women for over two hours; Changmei had told the other two women’s fortunes for over two hours.

Li Chi said: “Jiuling, I need you to make a trip to Daizhou Pass to see Xiahou.”

After passing along a few words of instruction, Li Chi said: “Tomorrow I’ll tell Cui Hansheng and Liu Wenju that I intend to stay in Xinzhou for a few more days, and that you’ll accompany Liu Wenju to escort the silver to Daizhou Pass. That way Liu Wenju won’t be suspicious. Once you reach Daizhou Pass, relay my instructions to Xiahou.”

Yu Jiuling nodded: “Leave it to me.”

He looked at the three of them with some concern: “You three staying in Xinzhou — you’ll be alright?”

Changmei said: “With you gone, we might actually have a more comfortable time…”

Yu Jiuling said: “Daoist, if you’re really itching to hit me, go ahead. I misjudged you earlier. I shouldn’t have… But a Daoist of your compassion would never raise his hand against a junior.”

Changmei launched a shoe.

Yan Qingzhi said: “In this city, Liu Wenju has two brothels in his own name, and two more connected to him — probably belonging to Cui Hansheng and the Xinzhou Prefecture officials. The young women in those brothels — many of them got in this way. We have to rescue them.”

Yu Jiuling said: “I’ll make the trip to Daizhou Pass quickly. Don’t do anything rash while I’m gone — at least wait for me to get back… I want to hear those young ladies say to me: ‘Thank you, Gongzi. Gongzi, you’re wonderful.'”

Li Chi: “…”

Changmei: “What a disgrace.”

Li Chi said: “Everyone get some rest. Jiuling, I’ll come wake you after midnight. Come with me to Liu Wenju’s home and take a look around.”

Yu Jiuling grinned slyly: “Going to that scoundrel’s home — I think we should take the opportunity to help ourselves to a few things.”

Li Chi said: “We’re not thieves!”

He gave Yu Jiuling a look, then said: “Taking is wrong — but we can take as much as we can carry. Liu Wenju will be out of the city tomorrow and won’t have time to deal with any of this.”

Yu Jiuling said: “Do I keep whatever I take?”

Li Chi said: “Yes. Whatever you take is yours.”

Yu Jiuling decided this was the best news he had heard all day.

—

Meanwhile, at Liu Wenju’s residence.

Prefect Cui Hansheng said: “Since this surnamed Li dared ask you to personally escort the silver to Xiahou Zuo, it means his identity is genuine. To be safe, I’ll send men to accompany you. Bring more of your own skilled men as well.”

He paused, then said: “If you are fortunate enough to earn General Xiahou’s regard, your connection to Prince Yu will be no problem.”

Liu Wenju replied: “My lord, rest assured. If I do manage to meet General Xiahou at Daizhou Pass, I will tell him that all this silver was raised and gathered through your efforts, my lord. All credit belongs to you.”

Cui Hansheng laughed heartily: “Your reliability has always given me confidence. If this trip can establish a line to the Prince’s estate, our days ahead will be far more comfortable — and your gambling halls and brothels will be able to spread throughout all of Jizhou.”

Liu Wenju hurriedly raised his cup and said: “All thanks to my lord’s care and protection. My lord’s grace and kindness — I shall never dare forget it in all my life.”

Cui Hansheng nodded, then seemed to remember something. He leaned in and said quietly: “The matter with Liu Shanshen’s daughter — put that on hold for now. I’ve had my eye on the girl, but with the Prince’s estate’s people in Xinzhou, it’s best to stir up as little trouble as possible in the meantime.”

Liu Wenju said: “My lord, rest assured. She’s in the rear courtyard — she’s not going anywhere. Liu Shanshen may be able to feign illness and dodge things once, but can he dodge them twice? As for Liu Yingyuan, she will belong to you sooner or later.”

Cui Hansheng laughed again.

These two old foxes — both of them were already imagining the day when they would earn Prince Yu’s trust, when the future would only grow more glorious.

Cui Hansheng took a sip of wine and said: “Tomorrow when you set out, I still need to keep that surnamed Li well taken care of here. Make sure to pass the word — whoever runs the city’s underworld in this town, keep them in line. No one is to cause any trouble for me.”

Liu Wenju said: “My lord, rest assured. The underworld of this city is Liu Wenju’s underworld. One word from me, and no one will dare make a move.”

Cui Hansheng gave a sound of acknowledgment — but his eyes narrowed ever so slightly.