A true expert reveals their skill with a single move!

The alleys before and after Shi Family Alley were all perfectly straight. Although they were connected by small lanes, they weren’t as complex as Sixi Alley’s terrain, and the residents came from all walks of life. Due to limited manpower, Fu Tingyun could only have them split into several groups to search one alley at a time. After Yang Yucheng took over, he immediately expanded the search area to seven or eight alleys in all directions, having them stand guard at the passages he specified: “…No matter what happens, don’t move. Regardless of who tries to leave, stop them first. If someone looks like a beggar, apprehend them immediately. If someone appears well-dressed, inform me right away and politely detain them until I arrive.” Then he instructed A Sen: “You’re responsible for this.”

A Sen immediately stood straight and loudly responded, “Yes!”

His appearance of boiling blood seemed to take him back to the days when they fought over territory with the Feng family.

Yang Yucheng nodded with satisfaction and said to Zheng San, “We’ll carry torches and search alley by alley. As we search, we’ll call out loudly, saying that thieves broke into our home, stole things, and injured people. We’ll ask everyone to watch their doors, and if any strangers intrude, it would be best to call us for help. If that doesn’t work, find a way to drive them out. That fellow has excellent martial skills, so don’t try to fight him directly.”

Zheng San’s eyes showed admiration: “This way, everyone will unite against a common enemy. Even if they don’t help us catch him, they won’t shelter him either.”

“Exactly!” Yang Yucheng smiled, “Once Jin Yuanbao’s men arrive, we can search thoroughly. And even if someone finds him before us, hearing about his good martial skills, they’ll likely notify us. Even if they capture him themselves, he’s just a thief—no one would believe anything he says.”

“That’s right.” Zheng San nodded, finding two old clothes, soaking them with vegetable oil to make torches, and then going with Yang Yucheng from alley to alley, calling out loudly.

Yu Wei followed behind them. First, because she recognized Zuo Junjie, and if they caught him, she would need to identify him; second, because she became extremely agitated just thinking that Zuo Junjie was nearby—if she didn’t do something, she feared she would go mad with anxiety.

People in the nearby alleys were all awakened. The sounds of benches being placed against front doors rose and fell in succession. Lanterns in some households lit up, illuminating both front and back yards several times, and finally, they hung lanterns under the eaves before settling down.

With the light, there were fewer places to hide.

Jin Yuanbao arrived with more than ten night watchmen, and everyone rearranged their plan and split up to search carefully.

Fu Tingyun gazed into the deep night, her mood uneasy.

What should they do if Zuo Junjie escaped again this time?

Hadn’t Zuo Junjie already left the capital? Was their information wrong? Or had he returned?

Knowing they were looking for him, why would he come back? And how did he end up in this area? And why was he dressed like a poor scholar?

As these thoughts crossed her mind, she froze.

At Tanzhe Temple, he still looked like a beggar. How, after nearly half a year, was he now dressed as a scholar?

What had happened to him during these days?

Also, what about her uncle and aunt? Did they know about Zuo Junjie’s situation? Had he contacted her cousin’s wife?

Various thoughts came rushing in, and Fu Tingyun’s expression grew solemn.

Mrs. Zhang, beside her, advised: “Man proposes, God disposes. They’re all helping to search; you should go back to your room and rest for a while! When they find him, they’ll certainly come to report to you immediately.”

Fu Tingyun understood this in her heart.

Like Yu Wei, if she didn’t do something at this moment, she wouldn’t feel at ease.

“Thank you.” Fu Tingyun smiled gratefully at Mrs. Zhang and said, “That thing is too important to me; how could I possibly sit down…”

Before she could finish her sentence, she heard someone shouting: “Found him, found him!”

Fu Tingyun’s face lit up with joy. Mrs. Zhang was also happy for her and took her hand: “Come, let’s go see!”

Although it wasn’t the time to watch the excitement, Mrs. Zhang had stood with her for so long that it wasn’t convenient to refuse.

She would see what to do when the time came!

Fu Tingyun sighed inwardly and walked with Mrs. Zhang toward where the torches were gathering.

“Let me go! Let me go quickly!” From a distance, she heard Zuo Junjie’s shouting. As they got closer, she saw a tall, thin man in a disheveled state being pinned to the ground by four or five men as he struggled desperately. “I didn’t steal anything! You’ve got the wrong person! I’m a man with scholarly rank… I was framed by that woman Fu Tingyun…”

As soon as the three words “Fu Tingyun” left his mouth, Yang Yucheng took off his shoe. Before Zuo Junjie could finish his sentence about being framed, Yang Yucheng had already crouched down, grabbed his hair, and stuffed his smelly sock into Zuo Junjie’s mouth. Then he asked Yu Wei: “Is it him?”

After years of waiting, Yu Wei’s wish had finally come true. Tears sparkled in her eyes.

“It’s him!” she said excitedly. “It’s him!”

“Good!” Yang Yucheng murmured, standing up and lightly dusting off his clothes as if he had just touched something dirty. He smiled and explained to everyone: “This fellow is unrepentantly evil. If he bites his tongue, it would be terrible—we’d be accused of torture during interrogation. Better to gag him, and when the officials arrive, we can explain ourselves properly!”

He was handsome, and when he spoke with a smile, half joking and half teasing, he naturally had an air of romantic elegance that made people like him.

The onlookers began to laugh.

Yang Yucheng called out loudly: “Thank you, neighbors! The thief has been caught; everyone can rest assured!” Then he bowed to everyone, “For my brother’s family’s sake, I’ve troubled all of you. Please don’t rush to leave—at the Donglai Shun restaurant at the entrance of the street, I’m treating everyone. I’d like to invite all of you brothers to join me. I thank everyone here!”

After being busy for half the night, who wouldn’t want a free meal?

Everyone shouted and crowded around Yang Yucheng as they headed toward Donglai Shun.

Jin Yuanbao gave A Sen a look and followed behind everyone, carrying Zuo Junjie.

Two officers from the Five Cities Command came forward eagerly: “Master Jin, how could we let you do this yourself? Just hand him over to us brothers.”

“Sure!” Jin Yuanbao very casually handed Zuo Junjie over to them, and everyone left the alley together.

Mrs. Zhang, watching Yang Yucheng’s retreating figure, kept nodding: “Our master truly has an eye for talent!”

Fu Tingyun chuckled and invited Mrs. Zhang to sit inside: “Please stay here tonight!”

This time, Mrs. Zhang didn’t decline. She affectionately took Fu Tingyun’s arm and walked through the gate of the Zhao residence.

…

It wasn’t until noon the next day that Fu Tingyun finally saw off Mrs. Zhang, who had warmly invited her to visit her home.

A Sen immediately popped out.

“Sister-in-law,” his voice was low, but he couldn’t hide the pride in his expression, “we’ve locked him in a cellar in Three-Eye Alley. Brother Yuanbao is watching him personally, just waiting for you to come and question him.”

Fu Tingyun was startled: “Why did you lock him up there? That place is crowded and full of gossip. What if someone finds out?”

Three-Eye Alley was located in the northern part of the city. Like Sheep Intestine Alley and Corner Alley, it was populated by peddlers and laborers, mostly tenants. It was common for seven or eight families to live in one courtyard, and Madam Zhou used to live in Sheep Intestine Alley.

“Don’t worry, Sister-in-law,” A Sen chuckled, “The person who helped find the house is a friend of Brother Yuanbao’s, someone who owes him a life debt. Brother Yuanbao only said that it wasn’t convenient living with Sister-in-law and wanted to rent a temporary place to stay occasionally without others knowing. That man thought Brother Yuanbao wanted to keep a mistress outside and immediately helped find this private house with its entrance. He even insisted that Brother Yuanbao invite him to the wedding banquet…”

Jin Yuanbao was steady and reserved, with meticulous thoughts. Anyone he entrusted with tasks would certainly be reliable.

Fu Tingyun nodded slightly but couldn’t help saying: “Everything has its pros and cons. We should be careful with this matter. Don’t let casual remarks be taken seriously by others, spreading rumors about keeping a mistress. When it comes time for a proper marriage proposal, what family would let their daughter marry him?”

“Then what should we do?” A Sen opened his eyes wide. “Brother Yuanbao also said that neither he nor Brother Yucheng could always stay there, and it would be best if you sent a woman to live there for a few days to avoid suspicion…”

It was a good idea, but where would she find such a woman? If rumors spread, how could that woman live with dignity?

Fu Tingyun couldn’t help but feel a headache. She said, “Let’s go see first, and we’ll discuss this matter later.”

A Sen smiled and loudly responded, “Yes!” He went to tell Zheng San to prepare the carriage. Fu Tingyun kissed her daughter and played with her for a while, then called Zheng San’s wife to entrust her with household matters before taking Yu Wei to Three-Eye Alley.

Beijing’s winters were long and cold, and every household had to store cabbage and radishes; otherwise, they would have to eat pickled vegetables for several consecutive months in winter. Therefore, although each family’s cellar wasn’t small, it couldn’t be called large either. Fortunately, winter was over, and the cellar was empty. Although the cellar emitted an indescribable foul odor, it was at least large enough for Fu Tingyun, Yang Yucheng, and others to stand in.

Tied up like a rice dumpling and thrown in the corner of the cellar, Zuo Junjie still had Yang Yucheng’s smelly sock stuffed in his mouth. Upon seeing Fu Tingyun, his eyes blazed with anger, and he made unintelligible mumbling sounds.

“Take that thing out of his mouth!” Fu Tingyun said calmly. “I have questions for him!”

A Sen complied, stepping forward to remove the sock from Zuo Junjie’s mouth. A stream of curses immediately poured out: “Fu Tingyun, you vicious woman, you framed me as a thief… What did I steal from you? Oh, I stole your undergarments, so why did you gag me? Afraid others would know? Or afraid your current lover would find out…”

Before Fu Tingyun could speak, Yang Yucheng had already stepped forward, grabbed him, and slapped him several times on both sides of his face: “Watch your mouth! Answer only what my sister-in-law asks you. If you speak one more dirty word, do you believe I’ll crush your family jewels and sell you to a male brothel, letting you experience what it’s like to be ridden by thousands and slept with by tens of thousands…”

Listening to this, Jin Yuanbao felt uncomfortable and glanced at Fu Tingyun, hurriedly saying: “What are you saying? Don’t you see who’s here?”

Yang Yucheng’s face reddened as he threw Zuo Junjie to the ground. Smiling awkwardly at Fu Tingyun, he said: “Sister-in-law, please don’t take it to heart. We’re just rough men who let our tongues slip, just a slip of the tongue!”