The Yun family’s two hundred fully armed household troops were blocked outside the city gate by the gate official. No matter how Yun Ye jumped up and down in rage, the rigid gate official still wouldn’t let them pass. He lay across the gate tunnel entrance, telling Yun Ye to first trample him to death before entering.
“Well now! Fully armored, are we? Who’s so blind they provoked you again? Let this old man take a look—iron armor, horse lances, powerful crossbows, flying claws, chain hammers. Eh? Boy, do you not want to live? The Eight-Ox Crossbow—is that something you can casually take out of military camp? What are you planning to do? Attack the Imperial City? Aren’t two hundred men a bit few?”
That shameless old Liu Hongji was today’s duty officer. Leading a dozen lackeys, he swayed over from the end of the street. Tapping his finger on the armor plates on the household troops, he finally slapped Yun Ye’s helmet and said loudly: “Scram quickly! If you dare say half a word of ‘no’ from your mouth, this old man will have the Golden Guards stew your shrimp soldiers and crab generals in one pot. Leading troops to storm Vermilion Bird Gate—His Majesty did it once, and since then no one dares do it. Do you want to die?”
With a gloomy face, Yun Ye removed his armor and threw it in a messy pile on the ground. The other household troops followed suit. In no time, everyone became commoners wearing short clothes.
“Entering Chang’an like this should be no problem, right?”
“Of course no problem. Oh right, you can take the horizontal blade. You’re a marquis—you can’t lack the proper dignity. Boy, quietly tell this old man whose trouble you plan to make in the city? If it’s Fang Xuanling’s, you can take the horse lance too.”
“This boy is going to visit an immortal—a fraudulent immortal who owes the Yun family three thousand taels of gold.” Having spoken, he left the steward to look after the horses, weapons, and armor, and directly led his people to the Zoroastrian temple in Chongning Ward.
The county magistrate of Chang’an County was scared nearly to death. He mustered the constables to follow behind Yun Ye, constantly pleading—beat them up a bit and be done with it, don’t dare let anyone die. If someone died, no one would come out well.
Later, seeing Yun Ye enter the Fire God Temple, only then did he wipe the beads of sweat from his forehead and breathe a long sigh of relief. Finding a cold noodle stall to sit down at, he prepared to watch the show. As long as Yun Ye didn’t make trouble for Great Tang’s common people, he was too lazy to care about these bearded barbarians’ business. The bearded ones had wild temperaments and didn’t understand ritual propriety. With eyebrows and beards in great profusion all looking the same—who could keep clear whether there was one less today or one more tomorrow?
The Yun family’s manner indeed didn’t disappoint the Chang’an people who loved watching excitement. Every bearded barbarian in the temple—see one, beat one. Those who could run and move didn’t count as having been beaten and needed to be beaten again.
Old Zhang lay half-dead in the great hall. Hearing the endless wailing sounds outside, he immediately perked up. Sitting up, he laughed heartily, pointing at the bearded barbarians who ran into the hall in disarray to hide everywhere and cursing them endlessly. His manner was arrogant and annoying.
After the temple people reported the news of Yun Ye’s rampant smashing and beating, not only the Great Elder but even the other elders breathed a long sigh of relief. Yun Ye being so unscrupulous indicated that the Yun family indeed had no involvement with the Light Plate’s disappearance. Clashing head-on with a Great Tang marquis with real power, they also had deep misgivings.
“Let’s go out. Let’s meet this marquis lord who has a reputation for being a wastrel. I believe the final solution will be nothing more than money.”
The elders followed the Great Elder out of the secret room and stood before the blazing Light Lamp, waiting for Yun Ye’s arrival. Old Zhang was about to mockingly say a few words but under the Great Elder’s icy gaze, consciously closed his mouth and obediently guarded the two boxes of gold blocks, not leaving.
Yun Ye entered the great hall surrounded by guards. Glancing at the Light Candle, he instructed everyone to discard the wooden clubs in their hands, sheath their horizontal blades, and ordered them to stand guard outside the hall while he walked in alone.
Yun Ye’s minimal respect for the God of Light still won the Great Elder’s goodwill. He also stepped out from the crowd, crossed his arms, and saluted Yun Ye.
Yun Ye mimicked him, also crossing his arms to return the salute to the elder. Although very imperfect, the Great Elder smiled with satisfaction and said: “Why is Marquis Yun so furious?”
“I only came to collect my gold and incidentally bring back this useless waste to deal with. But Elder, won’t you give me a reason for beating my guard?”
“Respected Marquis Yun, Shaye is dead. His attendants are also dead. The precious Light Plate was chopped in half by the wicked murderer. Under such abrupt circumstances, two people came to my temple to execute an agreement made with a dead man. Wise Marquis Yun, if it were you, what would you do?”
“Those two people would definitely have already been chopped up and fed to dogs by now. I’m a marquis—naturally I can do such things. You, a person from beyond civilization, what gall do you have to dare touch my household’s people? That Elder Shaye you mentioned led people to sneak into my home in the middle of the night. Although I killed one of them, I still mercifully spared them. Based on respect for divine spirits, I even agreed to his request. Great Elder, do you think this matter can be easily passed over?”
The Great Elder turned back to give an instruction. That giant man came out carrying another heavy box, placed it at Yun Ye’s feet, then retreated back.
“My Lord, it’s this fellow who injured me.” Old Zhang’s fawning expression made one really want to beat him.
Money at any time is good medicine for treating injuries. Yun Ye opened the box and tossed two gold pieces to Old Zhang. He immediately recovered from all illnesses and never mentioned being beaten again.
“The Yun family needs face.” Yun Ye spoke while pointing outside. The Great Elder nodded to show understanding.
“Do you know who did it? I really want to know. The Yun family’s people are already investigating everywhere. The Yun family isn’t afraid of being framed, but dislikes being used by others. If you know who did it, please tell me.”
The Great Elder smiled even more happily and nodded again. Yun Ye said nothing more after that. He waved his hand. Three guards walked in, each carrying a box, following Yun Ye out the door.
The Yun family people came quickly and left quickly. Coming and going took only the short time of burning one incense stick. The Chang’an County magistrate saw the Yun family hadn’t made the matter big—just casually beat up a few dozen people and left carrying three boxes. He knew the temple’s compensation to the Yun family was quite generous. Although envious of those three heavy boxes, he still felt relaxed all over. Better to have one less matter than one more.
“Great Elder, four thousand five hundred taels of gold is also no small sum of money for us. Why did we so easily give it to him?” A young priest asked in puzzlement.
“Young man, never regard money too heavily. The function these gold pieces serve is beyond what you can imagine. At least, the Yun family has already stood on the same side as us. Those who killed people and destroyed the Light Plate will sooner or later reveal their tracks. We only need to wait patiently. When the time comes, using the Yun family’s power to achieve our purpose would be best. This is Tang territory, not our homeland. Although Muhammad has already died, another vicious Caliph has appeared. Our hope of returning to our homeland is slim. Tang territory is our final dwelling place. If we can avoid making a show, we avoid making a show.”
Liu Hongji had been guarding in front of Vermilion Bird Gate all along. Seeing Yun Ye return, as an old thief from the greenwood road back in the day famous for his poisonous eyes, just looking at the size of those boxes and the guards’ heavy steps, he knew the Yun family had made another windfall. As for the injured household troops being carried, in Liu Hongji’s eyes they counted for nothing.
“Boy, made a fortune, eh? In the time it takes to burn one incense stick you robbed them? Four thousand-some taels of gold isn’t a bad haul. Does that broken temple really have so much money? This old man is also considering whether to pull one job. In any case, it’s only two months of confinement. Bring several beauties in, and when coming out maybe there’ll be a few more sons. This deal is profitable!”
Yun Ye didn’t take in anything else Liu Hongji said, treating it as passing gas. But the two months of confinement he heard crystal clear. He couldn’t help asking: “Uncle Liu, don’t tease your nephew. This boy only went in to collect a bit of debt. Back and forth was just over half an hour. I didn’t provoke anyone, right? Please be magnanimous and spare your nephew.”
“This old man sparing you naturally has no problem, but Empress Dowager learned you led people to assault Vermilion Bird Gate and even beat the gate official. This isn’t once or twice. The previous times we old fellows pretended not to see. This time is different. Old Wang entered the city right behind your household and went directly to the palace to accuse you of being arrogant and domineering. Her Majesty was furious. Here, the edict is right here with me—confined for two months to read. If you don’t memorize the *Book of Rites*, you’re not allowed to come out.”
This routine again. Confinement wasn’t once or twice either. Just go home and not leave the house. Just as he was about to lead the guards out of the city to go home, Liu Hongji stretched out his arm to block Yun Ye and asked: “Where are you going?”
“Confinement! It’s not the first time. Just go home and lock myself in the study for two months.”
Yun Ye said nonchalantly.
“Boy, there’s no such good fortune this time. You know the abandoned garden at Qujiang? That imperial abandoned garden where half the houses have collapsed—that’s your confinement location. Awesome, right? Imperial guards at the door. Aside from books, just two flatbreads a day. Not even tea. Boy, Her Majesty is very angry.”
Nothing good ever happened when he saw Duan Hong. Just seeing that punchable face of his, Yun Ye was bound to have bad luck. Liu Hongji stepped aside and this fellow appeared. In the corner stood four or five hulking giants, all with stone faces. Duan Hong merely pulled out the edict and waved it around, stuffed it in Yun Ye’s bosom, and with a smile ordered the guards to seize Yun Ye and bind him securely with yellow silk.
“Duan Hong, you damn well tied this old man up using the ‘four hooves trussed’ method? Did Her Majesty also instruct this?”
“Not at all. Her Majesty only said to tie you up and take you to the Qujiang courtyard, not how to tie you. We’re servants—naturally we must grasp superior intent. This old slave thinks the ‘four hooves trussed’ binding method is most secure. Rare to use it once, so I wanted to try.”
Liu Jinbao was about to approach but was kicked head over heels by Duan Hong. He only dared follow from afar. Not until the Marquis was carried into the abandoned garden did he scatter the guards and have Steward Yu take the gold back home to report.
Entering the garden, Yun Ye finally understood why the Qujiang garden was called an abandoned garden. On the thin snowy ground were paw prints of unknown animals everywhere. Several very large paw prints—Yun Ye didn’t think they were left by wild dogs.
“Marquis Yun has good fortune! There are foxes here, wild dogs, tsk tsk, even jackals—don’t know where they got in from. Her Majesty said two flatbreads a day. You see, a steward has already cleaned the room for you. Spider webs and such—no time to clean them. My Lord, you’ll just have to make do. In this bitter cold, there won’t be live spiders running around everywhere.”