Without needing to say more, Third Mother’s words were a confession. She admitted she knew about it and had helped Huo Ba set up this trap.
Mo Zi seized the opportunity to present her evidence. “Miss Wu You, it’s not that I’m deliberately looking for trouble. This card in my hand is Cloud Leopard Xu Jiu’s calling card. He invited me to a banquet at Wu You Pavilion tonight. Who knew he wouldn’t come, but Huo Ba would instead? This tea—even if he was the one who drugged it, clearly Third Mother knew all about it too. We three came wholeheartedly to make friends, yet were besieged by Huo Ba with so many subordinates. If I hadn’t asked you to come forward, I would have suffered this injustice in silence—wouldn’t that be wrongful? I imagine Wu You Pavilion opens its doors for business and all who come are customers—you can’t show favoritism. You should know that today’s poor customer may be tomorrow’s distinguished person. Looking at Miss Wu You’s extraordinary bearing, others may not understand, but you certainly should understand this principle.”
Wu You was left speechless, because everything the other party said was entirely reasonable. If she tried to refute it, wouldn’t she just make herself appear petty and snobbish? Moreover, quite the contrary—someone like her who could build a business to this level was indeed reasonable and understanding, incomparable to ordinary women. Hearing Mo Zi speak frankly and politely, she felt less contempt.
“How should I address this young gentleman?” The first step of sincerity was to ask for a name.
“People call me Brother Mo.” After speaking, her eyes glanced over. Meeting the gaze of a certain official watching the show, his smile deepened a bit more.
“Brother Mo, I truly didn’t know about tonight’s affair. It seems someone took a chicken feather for an imperial arrow, thinking themselves able to make decisions in this Wu You Pavilion.” Wu You glanced coldly at Third Mother, who guiltily lowered her head. “Regarding the drugged tea, I will definitely investigate thoroughly. If it truly was Wu You Pavilion’s doing, whether under coercion or instruction, without a word, I’ll present Brother Mo with one thousand taels in banknotes as an apology.”
Of all the formidable people Mo Zi had encountered so far, powerful men came one after another, but the women were almost all engaged in inner courtyard scheming. Aside from Qiu Sanniang, she hadn’t seen another woman who was a match for any man. This Wu You was the second. In the Great Zhou where women were heavily constrained, encountering such women became rarer each time.
She immediately clasped her fists. “Miss Wu You is truly a straightforward person—I admire that. If you can investigate and reveal right from wrong, I would be deeply grateful. As for this one thousand taels of silver, I will definitely not accept it. Who the mastermind is, you and I both probably know in our hearts. Grievances have their source and debts have their master. Since Miss has agreed to stand up for me, I naturally cannot let Wu You Pavilion bear an undeserved bad reputation.”
One thousand taels versus one person’s heart—which was more important?
Hearing this, Wu You felt even more that this person was no ordinary fish in a pond. Though dressed plainly, he possessed a magnanimous spirit. She smiled lightly and said, “Brother Mo is also a person of true character. Wu You thanks Brother Mo here. Since you’re generous, I cannot be petty. The Xu Jiu who summoned you is right here with me. However, I wager he didn’t know what his Eighth Brother was doing—otherwise it couldn’t possibly have escalated to this degree.”
Mo Zi saw Wu You point to a young man not far from her side.
“There—this dark-faced brother with a face like a pot bottom is the famous Leopard Gang’s Xu Jiu, Ninth Master. Though I can discipline my own subordinates, the matter of Old Huo Ba using false pretenses to frame you isn’t under my jurisdiction. Go find him to lodge your complaint.” Wu You had distributed all responsibilities. “When I’ve verified everything, please come again, Brother Mo. I’ll treat you to fine wine and excellent food. Whichever girl of Wu You Pavilion you choose to accompany you, there will be absolutely no objections.”
Just as she finished speaking, someone in the crowd said, “Even Miss Mo Chou?”
Wu You’s eyes flowed with charm that stirred the heart, causing quite a few men to stare straight-eyed.
“That’s right. Mo Chou is a girl of Wu You Pavilion. If Brother Mo chooses her, I’ll accept on her behalf.” If she as proprietress didn’t speak up, her subordinates could set whatever rules they pleased. But if she insisted, even the top courtesan, even the capital’s flower queen, would have to obediently comply.
The men below let out envious sighs.
Mo Zi hesitated briefly over whether to show some response to such warm hospitality. Just as she was about to put on a lecherous act, she was forcibly suppressed by Yuan Cheng’s expression—both eyebrows raised and barely suppressing laughter. If she pretended to be a lustful man, this person would probably die laughing inside.
Speaking of which, he had that refined jade-like appearance, yet his expression wasn’t gentle at all—quite heated, actually.
“Xu Jiu, you’d better properly resolve Brother Mo’s matter for me. Otherwise, from now on, don’t come to my Wu You Pavilion to host dinners.” Wu You’s beautiful eyes, even when glaring, could entrance men.
After Wu You finished speaking, she bowed gracefully to Yuan Cheng with a delicate voice: “Today I had the honor of meeting the Official. I hope you’ll visit often. Wu You has urgent matters and must take her leave first.”
Yuan Cheng remained sitting against the railing, not even looking at Wu You. “Wu You Mother may go as she pleases. Yuan has just found excellent entertainment and is in extremely high spirits.”
Wu You froze, thinking to herself that this extraordinary personage seemed completely uninterested in all her beautiful ladies. During the banquet he only spoke with Xu Jiu and others, barely touching the food and wine. Yet now he spoke of finding excellent entertainment. Could it be that like those vulgar men, he enjoyed watching fights and quarrels and such excitement? Appeared noble, but his essence wasn’t much? She couldn’t help feeling a bit disappointed. Without saying anything more, leaving behind those watching the excitement, she actually turned and went toward the inner building.
When Wu You spoke to Yuan Cheng, she had softened her voice. Mo Zi could only see Wu You’s attitude change from quite appreciative to quite cold, and figured Yuan Cheng must have said something wrong to offend the beautiful proprietress. At the same time, she noticed Third Mother had disappeared—most likely summoned by Wu You to be questioned.
Looking again at that man in fine robes—dark-faced yet handsome, with a square face, bright spirited eyes, full forehead, and bulging temples. He had Zan Jin’s height and solidity, though dressed far more elegantly. Blue python robe, silver jade belt. What drew attention was a white gold armband on his arm, two fingers wide, carved with a cloud leopard pattern—exquisite beauty revealing masculine energy, rugged wildness naturally expressing a leader’s pride.
Before Mo Zi could speak, Xu Jiu opened his mouth, his voice deep and resonant: “Is my Eighth Brother still unconscious?”
Zan Jin kicked Huo Ba and answered for Mo Zi: “How is he still unconscious? I only punched him once, kicked him once, and pressed the sword scabbard to his Shoulder Well acupoint. Because Brother Mo said I couldn’t harm anyone’s life, I didn’t know how much strength to use. Fortunately I’d practiced on that group of people first, otherwise I might have killed him in one blow. But being unconscious this long—did I still strike too heavily? Brother Mo, what should we do? Will this cause trouble? I have to say, this whatever-eighth-guy really can’t take a beating. I saw he kept a beard and thought he’d be formidable like my father, but turns out he’s not even as strong as a wild bear from the mountains.”
Zan Jin’s chanting skills were as high as his martial arts skills.
Xu Jiu heard the jumbled mess and shouted loudly: “My Leopard Gang’s rule is that brothers are like limbs—injuring my brother is like injuring my limbs. Setting aside right and wrong for now, big fellow, since you knocked out my Eighth Brother, I cannot not exchange a few moves with you. Or, you punch yourself once, kick yourself once, stab yourself once with the sword, and I can let it go.”
Huh? What kind of rule was this? Making Zan Jin hit himself, and Xu Jiu could let it go, but she couldn’t let it go! Why? Her side was the victim here!
At this moment, a middle-aged woman stepped forward and whispered a few words in Xu Jiu’s ear.
Xu Jiu nodded and said loudly: “Brother Mo, so many people are watching. If things go badly, we’ll offend Wu You Mother. Why don’t you come upstairs and sit first? We can discuss a date for the match over drinks.”
Mo Zi didn’t get angry but laughed instead. Was this Xu Jiu straightforward, or truly afraid Wu You wouldn’t let him come? However, he was right about one thing—with so many people watching, it wasn’t convenient to handle matters. Just now, they needed the momentum of the crowd to force out Wu You Pavilion’s proprietress. Now, they’d entered the stage of private reconciliation.
She said “Alright” so readily that it earned Xu Jiu’s praise of “Brother Mo is straightforward!”
Mo Zi wasn’t lightly flattered by his praise. In public, Xu Jiu wanted to give Zan Jin trouble—how smoothly could a private reconciliation go?
Just as she was about to enter Xu Jiu’s room, she heard someone behind her say: “Brother Mo, if you need Yuan’s assistance, just say the word. The one-month agreement still stands.”
Mo Zi stopped walking. Feeling that Yuan Cheng had also stopped, she turned to smile charmingly at him. “Official Yuan, where does this come from? You and I met by chance—how could I have the audacity to ask for your help? If the Official wishes to watch a show, I’ll perform a good one for you to see.” In any case, she was a bit player trying to advance—who cared about his one month or half month?
Yuan Cheng looked at her smiling face, his own smile becoming even more radiant. “Since Brother Mo puts it that way, Yuan will observe from the sidelines.”
“Official, please enjoy the show.” Hmph.
She heard Xu Jiu saying “Brother Mo, please come in.”
Mo Zi and Yuan Cheng thus entered one after the other, as if they were unrelated parties, sitting at opposite ends.
The door closed. Mo Zi assessed the third man at the table. This person was about forty-some years old, heavily built, with a thick beard and one eyebrow missing a chunk. Since appearing, he had remained silent, his expression seemingly weighed down with worries. Even with beauties at his side, he had no heart for romance.
In this room were six beauties—two sitting idly in a corner, two silently beside the large man, and two behind Xu Jiu holding wine pots and cups. All pure decorations.
“Brother Mo, I know my Leopard Gang’s rules are somewhat unreasonable, but we who mix in the jianghu value loyalty above all. My Eighth Brother borrowed my name to invite you here, most likely for that fifteen hundred taels owed by the Lin family. I deeply feel Brother Mo’s words are reasonable, and have already sent people to find Lin Dalang. We won’t demand debt from Lin Zhen Niang anymore. It’s just that my brother coveted Lin Zhen Niang’s beauty and wanted to take her as a concubine. Now seeing it won’t work, he’s being petty. If it weren’t for a woman, he wouldn’t have resorted to such underhanded tricks. This cup of wine—I’ll drink first to apologize to you three on behalf of Eighth Brother.” He hooked a finger and a beauty came forward to pour wine.
“This mistake isn’t Ninth Master’s, so Ninth Master needn’t apologize.” Toward Wu You she used a soft attitude; toward Xu Jiu, a hard one. “Ninth Master’s meaning is that even after drinking this wine, you’ll still cause trouble for us—is that right?”
“Brother Mo, if I don’t vent anger for Eighth Brother, I can’t answer to the gang leader and other brothers either.” As said before—brothers are like limbs, logic thrown aside.
“May I ask Ninth Master, to what degree must this venting go?” Mo Zi asked according to her understanding. “Remove an arm, chop off a leg, or stab a hole in the body?”
“As long as the big fellow brother is willing to let matters rest, that would indeed be a method satisfying both sides.” Xu Jiu, Xu the hoodlum, truly handled jianghu matters the jianghu way.
Even Zan Jin, as naive as he was, understood that meaning. His eyes widened enormously—it seemed like there was a chopping block here!
—