Fan Yuhuai waved his hand to dispel the overwhelming wine fumes, staring intently at Zhong Shaozhong while frowning and stepping back.

Seeing that the others were also thoroughly drunk, Fan Yuhuai thought to himself: the Crown Prince had sent him to arrest treasonous criminals, but these people were just drinking flower wine here, doing nothing else—how was he supposed to arrest them?

In this dilemma, Fan Yuhuai called over the flower house madam and asked: “When did Sir Zhong arrive?”

The flower house madam glanced at Zhong Shaozhong and answered truthfully.

“He hasn’t been here very long, so how did you gentlemen get this drunk?” Fan Yuhuai looked toward one of the trembling girls and pointed at her: “You… tell me, how much wine have these gentlemen consumed!”

“Aiyo! Commander Fan!” Zhong Shaozhong laughingly pressed down Fan Yuhuai’s hand, blocking in front of him with his body, speaking with a drunken slur: “Why make things difficult for a pretty girl? Whatever it is… Commander Fan can just speak with me!”

“You are the National Uncle, this subordinate dare not make things difficult! However, this subordinate received a report that someone here is secretly plotting treason! Since the National Uncle is so magnanimous as to let this subordinate speak with you, how about… the National Uncle and all the gentlemen accompany this subordinate to see the Crown Prince and Imperial Teacher Old Tan, and clarify things properly!”

After speaking, Fan Yuhuai’s attitude became firm: “Please escort the National Uncle and all the gentlemen back to the Grand Court of Judicial Review to sober up, and also… take this flower house madam and all the girls back as well, to ask clearly… what wine was given to the National Uncle and all the gentlemen that could make them so thoroughly drunk in such a short time!”

“Fine, fine! If Commander Fan wants us to see His Highness the Crown Prince, we naturally must go. However… Commander Fan, could you not make this known to everyone? I was promoted and felt happy… so I invited my former subordinates to celebrate. But some have strict family management, and if they knew we came to this pleasure quarter, it would be hard to explain to their families! Commander Fan… please be understanding! Don’t make such a big production of it! Can’t we just go by ourselves?”

After Zhong Shaozhong finished speaking, he smiled and tugged at his clothes: “Look… we’re still wearing our inner garments. Commander Fan wouldn’t make us go out like this and lose all face, would you!”

“Fine! Then this subordinate will wait downstairs for the National Uncle and all the gentlemen! Please don’t make things difficult for me, National Uncle and gentlemen!” Fan Yuhuai smiled and turned to his subordinates: “Take all these girls and this madam away! And get several carriages ready for the National Uncle and gentlemen to ride in!”

“Yes!”

The Patrol Battalion members responded and took action. Amid the screaming and crying of the flower house girls, the flower house madam panicked and approached Fan Yuhuai.

“Commander Fan! Commander Fan… please be merciful and show leniency. These girls are all delicate—how can they go to a place like the Grand Court of Judicial Review?” The flower house madam hurriedly pulled out banknotes from her sleeve and secretly pressed them into Fan Yuhuai’s hand: “Consider this my treat for tea for all the gentlemen! Please show mercy—my daughters can’t endure hardship!”

Fan Yuhuai took the flower house madam’s banknotes, turned, and handed them to his subordinate behind him: “This is evidence of bribing this official! Hold onto it!”

“Yes!”

The flower house madam was so shocked that her face turned deathly pale. She was about to step forward to plead again when she was pushed aside by the soldiers who had crowded in to arrest the girls.

The Imperial Guard generals were also fed up. They slammed the tables and stood up, protecting the flower house girls behind them.

Someone kicked over the table in front of him, sending porcelain plates and fruits crashing to the floor, and shouted: “Fan Yuhuai! What is the meaning of this? We came to the flower house for some wine, which law of the Great Jin have we violated which warrants such a grand operation to arrest people! What great official authority! Do you think we Imperial Guards are all soft persimmons for you to squeeze at will?!”

Fan Yuhuai looked toward that Imperial Guard general, his eyes dark and cold: “Fan is acting under orders from both the Crown Prince and Imperial Teacher Old Tan, coming to invite all the generals back to the Grand Court of Judicial Review to assist with an investigation. If there are any offenses… I’ll apologize to you all later. But right now… never mind kicking tables—even if you tear down the building, I must properly escort you all to the Grand Court of Judicial Review!”

After speaking, Fan Yuhuai turned and shouted: “The Crown Prince and Imperial Teacher Old Tan have commanded! Any who resist… shall be executed without mercy! Arrest them!”

After Fan Yuhuai spoke with imposing authority, he walked downstairs.

The flower house madam sat collapsed on the ground, crying bitterly. Watching the girls who kept calling “Mama” being dragged out by their arms by the rough hands of the Patrol Battalion soldiers, she tried to intervene, but even she was grabbed by the back collar and dragged outside.

“Aiyo! Aiyo, officers, please show mercy! This old body can’t withstand such treatment!” The madam was so frightened that her face turned white as she frantically begged for mercy.

Seeing Fan Yuhuai’s unyielding attitude, Zhong Shaozhong gritted his teeth and turned to his former subordinates: “Forget it, forget it! Let’s just go to the Grand Court of Judicial Review once. Those who do nothing wrong fear no ghosts knocking at their door! Only those who do wrong things specifically watch and spy on others. Let’s go once… Imperial Teacher Old Tan isn’t an unreasonable person either. We’ll just explain things clearly!”

Zhong Shaozhong’s words could be considered a veiled reference to the Crown Prince.

He cupped his hands toward the Imperial Guard generals: “Everyone, it’s all because today I invited you all to this flower house. You’ve all been implicated by me. I can only shamelessly beg you all not to conflict with the Patrol Battalion soldiers and accompany me on this trip!”

With Zhong Shaozhong speaking to this extent, although the others were quite displeased in their hearts, they all nodded in agreement, saying they were willing to make this trip with Zhong Shaozhong.

Soon, all the girls in the room were arrested. The Patrol Battalion deputy commander in charge of arrests smiled and said: “National Uncle, gentlemen, please quickly dress yourselves. This subordinate will wait outside the door. If there’s anything you need, please command me!”

After speaking, the Patrol Battalion deputy commander closed the door.

“This Fan Yuhuai has always been loyal only to His Majesty. When did he become the Crown Prince’s lapdog?” someone spat.

Bi Heng, whom Zhong Shaozhong had ordered to hide under the bed, also crawled out from underneath: “Sir Zhong, what should we do now?”

“Fan Yuhuai, following His Majesty’s commands is correct, but now that His Majesty is unconscious, naturally, he follows the heir apparent. Now… he’s considered half the Crown Prince’s man!” Zhong Shaozhong said.

Someone else worried, approaching Zhong Shaozhong and lowering his voice: “Sir, the Crown Prince is eager to detain Sir Zhong and all of us. I fear he already knows of our intention to protect His Majesty and wants to strike first! Sir…”

Zhong Shaozhong gritted his teeth—how could he not know this?

“I’m afraid that once we enter the Grand Court of Judicial Review, the Crown Prince will only release us after he kills His Majesty and ascends the throne!” someone else said.

“It seems Sir Zhong saying the Crown Prince harbors treasonous intentions… is indeed true! Otherwise, why would he monitor us? Why would he be so eager to bring us into the Grand Court of Judicial Review prison?”

“Imperial Teacher Old Tan has always been prudent. How has he now joined with the Crown Prince, becoming birds of a feather?”