Volume One, Chapter Seventeen: He Liu

Inside the Drunken Wind Pavilion, Qin Zheng watched Yang Fengqing depart, then immediately slipped his hand into his sleeve. Clutching the blood pill, he entered his inner vision, eager to observe the changes within the small flame.

In an instant, he sensed the blood pill dissolving, while the imperial edict from the Secretariat was discarded like rubbish, abandoned by the little flame. Within his sea of consciousness, the small flame flickered back, still drifting aimlessly. But this time, he suddenly noticed thin scarlet threads weaving slowly inside the flame, gradually revealing the outline of a palace.

Little flame, you are finally changing! But why are you building a palace within the fire? After being fed, you gave me a palace? Qin Zheng was filled with confusion, waiting for a long time but seeing no further transformation, he had no choice but to exit his inner vision.

How can I quickly acquire some treasures to nourish the little flame and reveal its true form? Qin Zheng pondered briefly before his thoughts returned to the massacre case. He needed to wait for the messenger and the astronomers from the Bureau of Astronomy, and also find a way to uncover the true identity of the little nun. Amid such tangled matters, the immediate priority was—go eat!

Rubbing his brow, Qin Zheng dismissed all distractions and headed to the Bibo Garden, where the little nun resided.

Within the Music Bureau, over a hundred young women, upon hearing that the esteemed official Qin—the pacifier who could decide their fates—had finished his business and was returning to dine, stirred instantly and gathered at Bibo Garden.

After a splendid display of culinary skills, the young women all set their minds to seduction.

“My lord, please come dine before the food grows cold.”

“My lord, try my ‘Jade Flute Listening to Falling Plum Blossoms,’ my signature dish.”

“My lord, eat slowly, don’t just gnaw on the lamb leg—have a sip of my exquisite ‘Good Match Soup.’”

The young women served eagerly, feeding Qin Zheng with seven or eight hands at once, bringing him immense pleasure.

At first, Qin Zheng resisted, but under such wholehearted hospitality, he soon gave in completely. A birthday feast for a rich second-generation heir would be like this; how could his nutrition keep up?

Fortunately, I, Qin Konan, am a man of integrity—this is merely to appease them temporarily, no need to engage seriously or dive into the tiger’s den.

With great willpower, Qin Zheng pushed away the soft, warm bodies pressing against his chest, back, arms, and thighs. Scanning the crowd of enchanting beauties, he then asked with some puzzlement, “Where are those little nuns?”

A delicate courtesan climbed back onto his lap, lightly tapping with her small hand and sweetly said, “The little masters are still chanting scriptures in the backyard.”

Very well, they are modest...

Since they were under his control anyway, Qin Zheng was in no hurry and continued feasting, soon lost again amidst the beauties.

“My lord, this ‘Jade Flute Listening to Falling Plum Blossoms’ is prepared by pairing five kinds of meats—lamb rump, pig’s ear, calf kidney, roe deer leg, and rabbit. Different combinations create different flavors, twenty-five variations in total, matching the number of plum blossoms. Please don’t eat it all at once.”

“My lord, the ‘Good Match Soup’ embodies the elegance of a refined lady, the perfect match for a gentleman. Like savoring a beauty, with delicate features, cherry lips, and tender bamboo shoots to alleviate fatigue. Lotus and lotus leaves add a unique taste. Please don’t just drink the pot.”

“My lord, roasted lamb leg is coarse fare, especially in summer, prone to cause internal heat. Please eat less.”

The young women chattered incessantly, but Qin Zheng grew hungrier with every bite. He felt his appetite had greatly increased after waking from his last unconsciousness.

Only after devouring five roasted lamb legs in one go did he rub his belly in satisfaction, as if all previous fatigue had vanished.

If I returned to the Xuánhé Garden now with this appetite and asked the eldest princess to help me cultivate again, she’d probably kick me out.

Though she is the emperor’s own sister and the most extravagant old maid in the court, she might not be able to support me anymore.

Recalling the past, Qin Zheng shook his head with a wry smile and told the surrounding young women, “Alright, you may all withdraw now.”

“My lord appears delicate, but his physique is truly robust, with such enormous appetite...”

The young women, bustling and noisy, cleared away the messy dishes. The refined guests who had dined earlier only sampled the dishes lightly and had never seen anyone finish everything so thoroughly.

After waiting a moment amidst the beauties, the courtesan Zǐwēi arrived shyly and said, “My lord, someone requests an audience outside the Music Bureau!”

The night watchman has come!

Qin Zheng’s spirits lifted, but he feigned nonchalance, “Bring the person to the Drunken Wind Pavilion. You need not come forward yourselves.”

Now that the Music Bureau had suffered a massacre, even the courtesans had to serve as gatekeepers.

Qin Zheng soon reached the Drunken Wind Pavilion and immediately spotted, after Zǐwēi left, a short, stocky man standing inside who looked very much like Wu Dalang, the famously stout character.

However, this Wu Dalang-type man wore a black short-sleeved uniform, a sword hung at his waist, and his steps were steady. Beneath his burly frame lay the ambition of Wu Erlang who once fought a tiger.

Qin Zheng’s expression darkened as he looked at this man. “He Liu?”

Only after Zǐwēi disappeared did Qin Zheng quietly sneer, “So you are the night watchman’s messenger?”

“My lord, no blows, no acquaintance!”

He Liu glanced cautiously around before sitting inside the pavilion with a sheepish smile. “Besides, my lord, I was the one you threw out of the Music Bureau that day. You didn’t lose out either...”

Damn you! If you hadn’t reported me to the Court of Justice for abusing your position and forcing twelve courtesans to serve you, would the ministers have called for the execution of the licentious Qin?

Would I have earned the title of ‘Licentious Qin’?

Qin Zheng shot He Liu a sidelong glance and casually gestured to a seat. “Since you are a night watchman, why did you come to the Music Bureau on the night of the incident?”

“That night was the Music Bureau’s black market trading day. I came to investigate the details!”

He Liu looked at Qin Zheng helplessly. “But unfortunately, that night you had just started your job and were in high spirits, ordering the Music Bureau to close early, completely disrupting the transaction…”

Though he forced a smile at Qin Zheng’s actions, inside he felt deeply frustrated—

How could Lord Lu have approved this man joining the night watch, and even as his superior?

This crude brute took over the Music Bureau and had it close early, making all the courtesans serve only him!

Even when He Liu came as a night watchman to stop him, he got beaten and kicked out!

This coarse warrior is nothing but a fool!

Today, coming to liaise, this man was again mingling with a crowd of Music Bureau women.

Following such a lecherous man, what future could I possibly have?

Unaware of He Liu’s thoughts, Qin Zheng grew even more suspicious. “There’s a black market inside the Music Bureau? What’s traded? Do others there know? Why didn’t you stop me that night?”

“There has always been a black market in the Music Bureau, trading demonic pills and magical artifacts of some sort!”

He Liu’s face tensed as he patiently explained, “But those who trade have cultivation; the women inside do not know. Even the guards suspect something, but often turn a blind eye and do not meddle.”

Then he added indifferently, “My lord was already drunk that night. I wanted to stop you, but my skills are inferior to yours. By the time I came back with reinforcements, the Music Bureau had already been wiped out.”

Qin Zheng was stunned, narrowing his eyes. The black market being disrupted that night, ‘Ma Hua’ breaking the sealed chamber and massacring the Music Bureau—what connection was there?

Since even the guards noticed the black market, it must be like in later ages, where the powerful prefer to trade flour in upscale clubs.

Such matters are safer in noisy, chaotic places; only fools meet on rooftops, neither secretive nor conducive to escape.

But someone was manipulating the massacre at the Music Bureau; sooner or later, ‘Ma Hua’ would break the seal and unleash carnage across the capital.

If ‘Ma Hua’ chose the Music Bureau to strike first, related to this black market transaction—

Then the mastermind must have left some clue behind after closing the Music Bureau, releasing ‘Ma Hua’ early to divert attention with the massacre and eliminate the hidden threat!

What could have been left behind?

Qin Zheng rubbed his chin involuntarily, tapping the stone table in the Drunken Wind Pavilion with his index finger and cautiously asked, “Does the night watch control these transactions?”

He Liu answered without hesitation, “The night watch strictly controls black market trades involving cultivation resources, especially the items and the parties involved!”

Qin Zheng’s eyes lit up, his expression brightening. “What were they trading that night? Who were the parties involved?”