As the evening drum sounded, the ward gates closed, and the first lanterns were lit.
In the Eastern Market, all the foreign-run taverns had shut their doors. However, in places hidden from public view, lights blazed and activity bustled. The mingled scents of food, sweat, and charcoal combined into an indescribable aroma.
He Liulang and over a dozen well-dressed young men surrounded a bamboo fence about ten feet square. Red-eyed and stamping their feet, they clenched their fists and shouted encouragement at the top of their lungs to two roosters inside the fence. Though bloodied and battered, the birds continued to fight fiercely.
Upstairs, Liu Chang leisurely sipped grape wine served by Maya, eyes half-closed as he listened contentedly to the commotion below. He asked Qiushi beside him, “It’s about time, isn’t it?”
Qiushi responded and hurried downstairs. Soon he returned to report, “Young Master, everything is arranged.”
A clamor erupted from below – some laughing and celebrating, others cursing loudly as the match ended. Liu Chang set down his glass goblet, stood up, and sauntered out.
Maya asked Qiushi, “Did He Liulang win again?”
Qiushi smiled, “Indeed. It would be hard for him not to win.”
Maya casually touched Qiushi’s chest, noting his suddenly flushed face. She asked nonchalantly, “How much did he win this time?”
Qiushi, gazing at her alluring eyes and full red lips, swallowed hard. Trembling, he held up first one finger, then another. “Tonight was special because they brought out the champion rooster. The stakes were particularly high. He was cautious, but counting the silk, gold, and silver, it’s worth about 20 million cash.”
Maya narrowed her eyes. “20 million? That’s quite a sum.”
Qiushi boldly stroked her smooth white fingers, grinning, “It is. But he’ll return it all to the young master with interest soon enough. He’ll lose until he cries.”
Maya raised an eyebrow and slapped his wandering hand. Her expression changed as she scolded, “How dare you! You impudent servant, would you dare touch me in front of your master?”
Qiushi said pitifully, “But you touched me first!”
Maya smiled coyly, pinching and shaking his cheeks hard. “I can touch you, but you can’t touch me. Understand?” With a swirl of her skirts, she turned and floated away, leaving a dazed Qiushi standing there.
Maya leaned on the railing, watching the scene below with interest. A new cockfight had begun, and nearby a game of liubo had started. Among the gamblers were He Liulang and several notorious young prodigals of the capital. He Liulang’s face glowed as he spoke more loudly than usual, calling out bets as he threw the dice, clearly elated. Liu Chang stood in the shadows, arms folded, watching He Liulang and the others with a gloomy expression, his thoughts unclear.
Gradually, He Liulang’s smile faded. Beads of sweat appeared on his forehead and nose. He bit his lip hard, his eyes never leaving the liubo board. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed, clearly extremely nervous. In contrast, his opponent smiled easily and brightly.
He must be about to lose everything, Maya thought, shaking her head in pity. It seemed He’s daughter hadn’t heeded her well-intentioned warning. Unable to bear watching the impending tragic outcome, Maya let her gaze wander. Suddenly, she noticed several unfamiliar faces in the shadows opposite Liu Chang.
These young men stood by the door, dressed extravagantly. Some mimicked Liu Chang’s pose, arms folded as they watched. Others looked around, talking quietly. But they all shared one trait – their eyes constantly scanned every corner and person in the room.
These men had come a few times before, but she hadn’t paid attention. Today they seemed different – they all carried swords and had keen gazes. Maya’s interest was piqued. Looking to a more remote corner, she grew even more intrigued. A figure leaned against the wall in the shadows, seemingly asleep. Huddled timidly, wearing a hat that covered most of the face, it looked like a servant brought along, too tired to wait for a gambling master. But the figure seemed familiar. Though she’d only seen her a few times, Maya was certain it was the attendant of He’s young daughter.
Maya turned her attention back to the group of men. Were they working together? What were they planning? One with a small mustache seemed to sense her gaze and looked up. His eyes weren’t particularly sharp, just very cold. Maya instinctively disliked that look. She immediately gave him a charming smile and batted her eyelashes. To her surprise, he returned her glance and grinned back at her.
Just then, He Liulang stood up and said, “I’m done gambling.” His opponent sneered, “I haven’t said we’re finished. You didn’t follow this rule in the past. How much money have you won from me? My luck is good today; how can I let you ruin it?”
He Liulang angrily retorted, “You dare force me?”
The other man chuckled, pulling a sharp dagger from his boot and stabbing it into the table in front of He Liulang. “What did you just say?”
He Liulang had already lost everything and owed a significant debt. If he continued gambling, he’d lose the clothes off his back. His face turned pale as he looked at his usual gambling friends, hoping someone would speak up for him and let him stop. But he saw only cold smiles.
Suddenly, someone shouted, “Imperial Guards! Nobody moves!” Everyone froze, turning towards the source of the voice, finally recognizing the group of men.
The law stated that those who gambled for money or goods would be beaten with 100 strokes. All forms of gambling were included. For large amounts, punishments were based on the individual’s share, treated as theft. Losers were considered accomplices and punished accordingly.
However, there were many gambling dens, open or hidden, and the government didn’t regulate them all strictly. This particular establishment was known for its secrecy and rumored powerful backers, which is why people gambled so boldly here. But today, Imperial Guards had appeared. Whatever the reason, they were here.
Seeing the official badges, chaos erupted. People scrambled to grab their belongings and rush for the exits or ran confusedly upstairs. Some, like He Liulang, were too shocked to move.
The mustache man drew his sword with a clang. Gripping it with both hands, he swung at the nearest table, cleaving it in two. He shouted hoarsely, “Imperial Guards conducting an investigation! Those who disobey will be treated like this table!”
Someone, disbelieving, tried to approach the mustached man to negotiate. Before he could get close, he was kicked down and struck several times with the flat of the cold blade, terrifying him so much that he wet himself. No one dared move rashly after that. The Imperial Guards were cold and merciless in carrying out their duties.
Mayaer glanced towards where Liu Chang had been standing, but he had already vanished. She smiled faintly, thinking how quickly he had fled. It was a pity no one knew about or guarded the other secret door; otherwise, they could have seen how the well-dressed Magistrate Liu would have faced these fierce imperial guards. Nevertheless, Liu suffered a major setback and significant losses this time.
The man with the small mustache swaggered around, leading several others as they swept through the building from bottom to top. They herded everyone except the women into a corner, using the cockfighting bamboo fences to corral them. All were treated equally, forced to squat with their hands on their heads. Anyone who moved slightly received a kick. They also swept away all the valuables in the arena and smashed the large iron safe containing various tickets and IOUs, taking every single piece of paper inside.
After completing this, the mustache man stood by the fence with a sword in hand, pointing at individuals. Each person he singled out was dragged away mercilessly. Everyone knew that falling into the hands of the imperial guards meant death or at least severe punishment. Cries for mercy filled the air.
He Liulang crouched fearfully, his eyes darting around. He saw both familiar and unfamiliar faces being dragged away, mostly officials’ sons, big gamblers, and a few managers. He secretly breathed a sigh of relief, thinking he might be spared.
Just as he thought this, he heard someone say, “You, come out.” The people who had been crowding around him suddenly moved away. He Liulang looked at the mustache man in disbelief, wondering if he was being addressed.
The mustache man impatiently swung his sword towards He Liulang. A flash of cold light made He Liulang’s legs weak, and cold sweat immediately soaked his clothes. He was dragged out in a daze, staring at the mustache man and mumbling, “I didn’t gamble much. I lost everything. There are others…”
The mustache man gave him a cold look, silencing the rest of his words. The selected individuals huddled together, watching the mustached man and his group fearfully. The mustache man smiled at Mayaer upstairs, “Beautiful lady, the night is long. Come down and pour some wine for us.”
Mayaer clapped her hands, and several beautiful courtesans came out, happily going downstairs to serve wine. The mustached man and his group didn’t drink much, each only taking a cup and sipping slowly as they rested.
He Liulang crouched trembling in a corner, maintaining the same position. He didn’t know what awaited him at dawn. He couldn’t understand why, out of so many people in the arena, misfortune had befallen him. He had been on a winning streak earlier in the night; how had he lost everything in the latter half? He deeply regretted playing liubo; he should have stuck to cockfighting, and his luck might not have turned.
Overhearing the whispers of others who had been selected, their voices filled with worry and fear, He Liulang’s thoughts shifted from his lost money, sudden bad luck, and disappointment in his gambling companions who had turned on him.
“For losing five bolts of cloth, one year of servitude, and one hundred lashes.” He had lost much more, so he would face a sentence and beating. He Liulang dared not dwell on the unfairness but started considering the imminent crisis. For safety, he hadn’t even brought a servant. Now that he was captured by the imperial guards, his family wouldn’t know where he was. He might die in there… Even if they were notified, He Zhizhong would beat him to death when he returned… But compared to being beaten to death by He Zhizhong later, the fear of being taken to an unknown place and facing an uncertain fate was more terrifying.
He Liulang’s gaze eagerly followed Mayaer, trying to catch her eye and silently plead for her to notify his family and find a way to get him out. However, Mayaer, who had always been sweet-tongued and received many rewards from him, kept her head down, playing the huxian and singing cheerful songs, not sparing him a glance.
Finally, the mustache man finished his last sip of wine and stood up, ordering his men to lead away the string of captives and carry several large boxes filled with gold, silver, jewelry, and fine fabrics. The captured people about to be taken away erupted in protest, crying about unfairness, while those left behind secretly felt relieved. The mustached man sneered, “What, do you want to add to your crimes? The next one who speaks will be the first I deal with.”
The cries and complaints stopped. The mustached man smugly surveyed the cowering crowd, waved his hand, and said, “Let’s go,” before departing.
The remaining people didn’t dare to breathe or move, still crouching with their heads down. It wasn’t until Mayaer said with a smile, “They’ve left. Would the honored guests like to get up and have a drink to calm your nerves?” that people finally stood up unsteadily, stretching their numb legs and asking the courtesans for drinks. They grumbled, suspecting an informant among them, wondering who it might be, and then began calculating their losses, wanting to settle accounts with the owner. But the owner had certainly disappeared long ago, leaving them no choice but to wait for dawn, cursing under their breath.
Amidst the busy chaos, Guizi tightened his cotton robe and crouched in a corner. Just as dawn was breaking, someone suddenly asked, “Who are you? I’ve never seen you before.” Then his collar was grabbed. It was a drunk man with bloodshot eyes looking at him suspiciously. With this shout, many eyes turned towards him. Having just experienced the raid, everyone was shocked, scared, and hurting, desperately needing an outlet. Seeing a stranger, they all suspected him of being a spy, their gazes far from friendly.
Guizi was panicking inside but remained outwardly calm, adjusting his collar and about to speak when a waft of fragrance came, and Mayaer said with a smile, “Isn’t this old Pu from Zhang Gongzi’s household? Your master has been taken away; you’d better be careful reporting back, or you might lose your skin.”
Seeing that Mayaer recognized him, the drunk man let go, shoving Guizi away roughly. Guizi bowed to Mayaer, “Thank you.”
Mayaer’s eyes were seductive as she said, “Tell your master she owes me a favor.”
When the morning bell rang, the ward gates opened, but the East Market had not yet opened its doors. It wasn’t until broad daylight and the loud sound of a gong that the market gates finally opened. Guizi mixed with a group of dejected gamblers as he left, carefully winding his way through the streets, constantly looking back to ensure he wasn’t being followed before finally returning to the He family residence in Xuanping Ward.
The He household was as peaceful and serene as ever. The second and fifth young masters had already gone to their shops as usual, while the women were happily accompanying Madam Chen in the main house, chatting and doing needlework. In contrast to everyone else’s high spirits, Mudan and Madam Chen, having not slept well all night, were somewhat listless, constantly listening for sounds from outside while forcing themselves to engage with others.
Suddenly, the curtain was lightly lifted, and Shu’er poked her head in. Mudan and Madam Chen exchanged a glance before quickly finding an excuse to leave. Shu’er whispered, “Guizi is back and waiting outside.” Mudan nodded and walked unhurriedly out of Madam Chen’s courtyard, but as soon as she passed the second gate, she quickened her pace.
Guizi sat alone in the side room, surrounding a charcoal brazier and holding a large bowl of hot soup dumplings, eating heartily. Seeing Mudan enter, he immediately moved to put down his bowl and stand to bow. Mudan quickly stopped him, “You’ve been up all night, you must be exhausted. There’s no rush, sit and fill your stomach first.”
Guizi smiled sheepishly, quickly finished his soup dumplings, then stood and recounted the night’s events in a low voice. “Commander Guo said he originally wanted to take revenge for you thoroughly, but sealing off that place was impossible. This was the most he could do. He asked me to inquire how long you want them held. He said it’s up to you.”
“I never intended to have the place sealed off. This is already quite satisfactory,” Mudan pondered for a moment before calmly saying, “Keep him for a month first. Make sure he suffers properly so he’ll never forget and never dare to offend again.”
Guizi nodded, “I understand.” He hesitated for a moment before whispering, “Last night, I saw that Liu fellow. But as soon as the imperial guards made a sound, he slipped away. There must be another secret door.”
Mudan pressed her lips together tightly. Indeed, the world was small.
Seeing her displeased expression, Guizi quickly added, “Regardless of who set the trap, it’s been broken, and they’ve lost more than they gained. The losses this time are severe. Even if they’re not shut down, it will take a long time to recover. There was limited gold and silver on-site, but all the IOUs and promissory notes in the iron safe were taken. That must be worth a fortune.”
“In any case, this worry has been temporarily removed,” Mudan sighed lightly. “Go rest now. Tomorrow, deliver what I promised to Commander Guo and thank him properly on my behalf. Also, make a trip to Mayaer’s place and send a gift.”
Guizi acknowledged the instructions and bowed before leaving.
Mudan used copper chopsticks to gently stir the charcoal ash. To resolve this issue, she had racked her brains, discussing strategies with Madam Chen, Second Brother, and Fifth Brother before settling on a plan and seeking help from various sources. She hadn’t expected that someone like Guizi would have so many connections, quickly establishing a line to Commander Guo. Although it cost a considerable sum, the matter was handled cleanly and efficiently. Commander Guo was part of the imperial guard, and he had profited significantly from this operation. It was a mutually beneficial arrangement, and Mudan wasn’t worried about the gambling den’s backers coming after her. However, she wondered about Mayaer’s intentions, given her repeated assistance.
Meanwhile, the night before, He Liulang had stumbled through the cold wind. He watched as the mustache man brandished his official tablet, ordering the ward gates to be opened with great authority, and leading the captives into the unknown darkness. He suddenly felt like crying, missing even those family members he usually disliked.
He didn’t know how long he had walked, but it was dawn when they finally stopped. They entered a dark, imposing gate, winding through several turns before passing through another cold, forbidding door. No one questioned them; they were simply thrown into a damp, chilly cell that reeked of strange odors and was devoid of any light.
Time passed indeterminably. One person was taken from the cell and never returned. Later, another was removed, also never to come back. The cell had no view of the sky, no way to tell day from night, and no one brought them food or water. He Liulang couldn’t keep track of time; he only knew that he had grown numb with hunger, waking from sleep three times to find that all those who had entered with him had been taken away, leaving him alone in the cell. Cold, hungry, in complete silence and solitude.
He woke from hunger two more times, despairing that he might have been forgotten here. Would he starve to death in this place? The more he thought about it, the more terrified he became, and the more likely it seemed. The thought of dying suddenly gave him strength despite his hunger-induced weakness. He struggled to the door, shaking it vigorously, and shouted hoarsely, “Someone come! Let me out!”
His raspy voice passed through the bars, drifting into the empty corridor outside, fading away to nothing. He didn’t shout for long before his energy gave out, and he collapsed weakly on the cold floor, his half-open eyes seeing no difference between open and closed, breathing feebly. He was going to die here, he thought despairingly, as he weakly fell unconscious again.
When he awoke, he was delighted to smell food. He carefully felt around and found a cold bowl containing half a serving of overcooked vegetable porridge. Such coarse food would have been beneath his notice before, but now it seemed more precious than gold or jewels. He lifted it with trembling hands and drank it all in one go, finding it unprecedentedly delicious, though it only made him hungrier. He licked the bowl clean, not wanting to waste a single grain.
Life gradually became more regular. Every so often, he received a bowl of vegetable porridge, two cold, hard coarse grain buns, and half a jug of cold water. At first, He Liulang tried to keep track of days by counting meal deliveries, but as time went on and he remained constantly hungry, he often slept to conserve energy and lost interest in counting. When he remembered his former good life, he would start cursing.
He cursed the gambling den owners for their incompetence and for cheating him, the imperial guards for their inhumanity and unfair treatment, his family for their heartlessness in not caring about his disappearance, and his gambling friends for being ungrateful and vicious. He cursed in a very low voice—food was scarce, so he had to conserve energy even when cursing.
After cursing, he would start sobbing quietly, wishing He Zhizhong were here—surely no one would dare treat him like this if his father were around. He resented Madam Sun for her incompetence, Concubine Yang for her uselessness, and then Madam Chen for her cruelty… After complaining about everyone, he felt a little better and drifted back into a hazy sleep.
Half-asleep, he suddenly heard the door open. He quickly opened his eyes to see two jailers holding torches, standing at the door saying, “We’re taking you for punishment.”
He Liulang panicked, “My crime doesn’t warrant death!”
The jailers laughed at this, exchanging amused glances before saying, “It’s for caning. You’re lucky, kid. Originally, you were to receive 100 strokes at once, which would have left your backside in tatters. But your family paid some money, so you’ll only get five strokes a day. You can endure it slowly.”
He Liulang broke out in a cold sweat. This meant he would have to endure for twenty days to complete a hundred strokes.