Chapter 44 – This Prince Wants Him

Chapter 44 - This Prince Wants Him

A cool night breeze blew in, causing the candle to sputter and pop, instantly transforming the atmosphere of the hall into one of solemnity.

No one could have imagined that this young master, with his gentle smile and refined demeanor, would so casually take a life.

Although the Jianghu had its own rules, and traitors knew they would eventually face judgment and execution, even though these were commoners and those in power held the authority over life and death, for the young master to be so tender-hearted, yet...

Yang Su felt a bit sorry for the man who had died. The mole he had planted within the Cao Gang had served him for nearly two years, greedy, lustful, and without any moral boundaries. As long as the price was right, he would do anything. He had still given Cang Ang some face, not using this opportunity to overthrow the Cao Gang before today. But now that he was dead...

After all, from tonight onward, this person would no longer be of use.

He was only momentarily surprised, but then his eyes brightened. No, there was nothing unexpected about this. This was precisely what a true young master of the capital would do!

If someone was afraid of such a scene, trembling and unable to move, how could they possibly be the young master of the capital, where everyone was willing to give them face, even befriending princes?

Killing couldn't be comfortable, and Wen Ruan didn't think he would ever get used to such things. In a society where talking about equality was akin to a fairy tale, he didn't consider himself a genius capable of advancing societal progress. He could only do what he could, within his means, like farming or making small inventions, to improve the lives of ordinary people slightly. Everything else was the responsibility of those in power, and worrying about it was useless.

He felt a little nauseous, but he maintained his composure. After Nanxing blocked the view of the corpse, he managed a smile, lazily looking at Yang Su. "The Prefect is still here. Master Ang wouldn't deny me this face, would he?"

Yang Su smiled similarly, turning to look at Cang Ang while straightening his back.

After all, it was 'his own subordinate' being executed by another, and no matter how it was spun, it was a loss of face. Cang Ang could only feign indignation, the sound of his knuckles cracking under the table loud enough for no one to miss.

"Betraying his master for profit, his death was well-deserved."

"That's right," Wen Ruan said, turning to Yang Su. "Shall we eat some dishes?"

"Yes, yes, let's eat!" With Yang Su's gesture, servants entered in succession, adding a dish of crabs. "Young Master, try this."

Wen Ruan: ...

Didn't you say there was a prince who wanted to entertain us? There are already three people at this table, wine and dishes have been served, even the crabs have been brought out, where is the prince? Are you lying?

Yang Su certainly wasn't lying. Prince Jian was indeed here, having arrived unexpectedly, his whereabouts unknown. He refused Yang Su's hospitality, ignored his flattery, and rejected all gifts, showing no interest in anything. Whatever Yang Su said was useless. He was completely cold and distant, directly commandeering the tallest pavilion in the garden...

He secretly glanced in that direction, then looked at the young master, his expression becoming even more amiable.

He did indeed have some expectations for this young master. If the information he currently had was true, then as long as he treated this young master well, Prince Jian might be willing to give him face. As long as he could establish contact with Prince Jian, why would he need Feng Guzi to introduce him to influential connections?

But these words couldn't be said. He couldn't show weakness in front of the young master, and he also needed to test the young master's capabilities. He didn't want to rely on someone who couldn't help him, only to end up dragging him down.

"...These crabs are a local specialty, not yet at their most succulent time. I chose the best from the first batch of mature ones. If Young Master likes them, please taste more. This delicacy is fragile and difficult to transport. Even with Cang Ang's cargo ships, they can't guarantee that they will arrive alive in the capital. Young Master must rarely have the chance to taste..."

Wen Ruan couldn't discern Yang Su's intentions. After washing his hands in the basin provided by the serving girl, he began to disassemble the crab.

His hands were slender and pale, the joints strong and forceful. When using tools to dismantle the crab, they appeared particularly graceful and pleasing to the eye.

On the pavilion.

Lan Tian understood. "The person Young Master killed just now was Yang Su's man?"

Zhu Yan: "He and that Cang Ang were working together."

This mole had likely been planted nearby for quite some time, and Cang Ang had known about it but found it inconvenient to handle. Tonight presented the perfect opportunity, and Wen Ruan reached out to assist...

They hadn't expected such a harmonious cooperation.

Lan Tian: "Young Master seemed very decisive."

Not at all afraid of killing, which meant that when he entered Prince Jian's mansion in the future, he would adapt to many things.

"No, he wasn't indifferent."

He was unhappy.

Zhu Yan disliked the smile on Wen Ruan's face now, and he didn't want to see it in the future. It was unattractive.

Shi Muyun had said that when you marry someone, you should live a good life together. You must know how to care for your partner, and you can't always be too serious about everything. In marriage, there's no need to always compete for superiority.

Fang Rui had said that no matter why his father and mother argued, no matter how they argued, the one apologizing and admitting fault was always his father. His father said that lowering your head to your wife isn't shameful; on the contrary, not having a wife to care for you is shameful.

Zhu Yan decided that he would no longer punish Wen Ruan.

He began to slowly and methodically adjust his clothing.

Lan Tian: "Is Your Highness planning...to meet the young master?"

Wasn't it said that he was going to punish the young master and not allow him to see him?

Zhu Yan: "He must be missing me terribly right now. What if he cries? I can't let rumors spread, making others think I'm heartless and cold, treating my wife poorly."

Lan Tian: ...

Wake up, Your Highness, have you ever had a good reputation?

How did you figure out that the young master misses you so much that he would cry?

"But before that," Zhu Yan narrowed his eyes. "Go investigate Cang Ang. What's the story about him having a younger brother at home?"

He always felt something subtle, not liking the feeling of not having control over matters.

And regardless of who this Cang Ang was, it wasn't acceptable. If he were in charge below, he wouldn't let Ah Ruan suffer.

...

"What kind of damned cult is this, with multiple hideouts, setting up decoys everywhere. They've studied evil ways thoroughly, haven't they!"

By the river, Young Master Huo was venting his anger. Today was such a rare opportunity. The young master was risking his life with Yang Su, enduring untold hardships, and he had gained nothing so far, not even finding a single location of the Empress Cult!

The clues they had obtained clearly pointed to this area; how could there be nothing?

Young Master Huo frowned tightly. "Keep searching!"

As they proceeded further, they unexpectedly ran into an acquaintance, the manager of the Liang family's shop in the capital? He was currently one of Lady Liang's trusted confidants being groomed.

That person tried to run away while covering his face with his sleeve, but Young Master Huo immediately grabbed him. "How did you end up here?" It was impossible for him to be doing business at such an ungodly hour. "Did someone from your group also go missing?"

The manager sheepishly lowered his sleeve and smiled apologetically. "Well..."

Young Master Huo waved his hand. "Business is business, and matters are matters. Although we've competed fiercely and caused each other considerable trouble, what needs to be done must be done. If you need help, don't hesitate. I'll ask you straight: Are you here looking for someone?"

"The Second Young Master is righteous," the manager bowed. "Indeed, that's the case. Our master's affairs... The Second Young Master has probably heard a bit about them. This isn't the place to discuss details, but several of us followed the leads to this location, only to get stuck. There's a spot we can't pass through..."

In other words, there were leads?

Young Master Huo immediately said, "If you trust me, let's combine our information. That obstacle you can't overcome, I might be able to. Are you willing to take a gamble?"

The manager promptly declared, "Our master trusts the Second Young Master, how dare a small manager like me not trust you?"

He then revealed all the information he had obtained.

After consolidating the information on his side, Young Master Huo indeed pinpointed a location. It was inconspicuous and mixed with all sorts of people, but if the abducted girls were imprisoned there...

"We should..." His mind raced as he quickly formulated a rough plan. He shared it with the manager of the Liang family, taking the lead with his own strength while the manager led others to assist by surrounding and closing off the area. They would work together inside and out to penetrate this rotten stronghold!

Tonight's first goal was to successfully locate the hiding place of the Empress Sect and rescue the deceived and imprisoned girls. The second goal was to capture or eliminate the heinous Feng Guzi. If things didn't go smoothly and the second goal couldn't be achieved, at least the first goal must be accomplished—saving lives was more critical than taking them!

The group split into two and quietly advanced. Before reaching their destination, Young Master Huo noticed a fight ahead.

Fights were good... Tonight, who knew what would happen where Yang Su was. It wasn't convenient to use the Canal Gang's people, so he had to act himself! It had been a while since he'd gotten his hands dirty!

"Second Young Master, something's off. It seems there are officials involved."

Young Master Huo made a gesture, leading everyone to hide and observe silently.

They didn't seem to be helping the Empress Sect, but rather assisting them? Whether due to insufficient concealment skills or previous exposure, these officials seemed to have discovered them but didn't drive them away. Instead, they intentionally left an opening, encouraging and allowing them to proceed?

"Damn!" Young Master Huo narrowed his eyes, watching for a long time before cursing.

He had thought something looked familiar. The tactics and formation habits of those few officials were very similar. They all had a distinctive emblem embroidered on the corner of their clothes, which he had seen in the capital. It was the symbol worn by the people around the Sixth Prince, his fiancé!

Could they be worried about his fiancé's safety and came to help?

Then he wouldn't miss this opportunity to ride the east wind! His fiancé had said, "Use what can be used, make full use of everything!"

Young Master Huo laughed heartily. "Come on, follow me!"

There was no need to worry about Yang Su anymore. The Sixth Prince's men had arrived; how could he escape? His fiancé would definitely be fine! As for that damned Empress Sect, if they didn't wipe them out tonight, his father wouldn't be named Huo!

However...

Ah Ruan, I told you it was too unprofessional to leave without saying goodbye. Now the Sixth Prince is here to catch people; you must be more careful!

At the pavilion, Zhu Yan quickly received the news, his finger pressing on the map. "Huo Er is here?"

"Yes, we're monitoring these few locations as well," Lan Tian pointed to several spots.

Zhu Yan looked at these directions, his eyes rapidly flashing with contemplation. Turning back to look at the youth in the flower hall, the corners of his lips curved slightly. "Have people surround the Yang residence, but do it quietly."

Lan Tian: "Huh?"

They had arrived hastily, gathering information and making decisions on the fly. The prince didn't know much about Sizhou and wouldn't issue orders lightly without a complete understanding. But now... Did he have a plan? So soon?

Zhu Yan: "Evacuate all unrelated personnel outside the garden. All identified individuals should be expelled, not letting any women go. If any man appears small in stature, thin, or delicate, verify their identity for me—"

Lan Tian: "What?"

A thin glance from his master silenced him. He bowed and immediately went to carry out the orders.

In the flower hall below the pavilion, Wen Ruan had eaten two crabs, and the atmosphere at the table returned, as if the earlier killing was an illusion.

"These crabs are truly excellent. Two months ago, I mentioned wanting to eat them, but unfortunately, there was an official here, what was his name again, surnamed Yi, I think," Wen Ruan casually brought it up. "He refused to give them, saying he couldn't send them."

Yang Su understood when he heard the surname Yi. "Yi Songxue, right? He's quite an unreasonable fellow. Don't bother with him, Young Master, or you'll just get upset."

Wen Ruan spoke slowly and deliberately. "Oh, so his name is Yi Songxue. I hold grudges. If someone makes me angry, I have to teach them a lesson."

Yang Su put down his wine cup and sighed. "Unfortunately, I can't help you with this matter. This Yi Songxue has been neglecting his duties and has been missing for several days. I wanted to call someone over to discuss matters, but I couldn't find anyone."

Whether he was neglecting his duties and missing or taken captive and hidden away, you couldn't possibly be unaware?

This refusal to release people was clear to Wen Ruan. "Never mind then," he appeared disinterested. "Your garden isn't small; can I wander around a bit?"

"Well... I'm afraid that's not very convenient," Yang Su didn't want to let a 'naive' young master run around freely. Besides, although it was his home, he couldn't control a large part of it. Prince Jian was present. "Everything is being prepared, and I must attend to the prince first."

Wen Ruan: ...

Again, the prince, where did this prince come from!

Cang Ang was not present at the moment. Earlier, during the crab feast, he had used the excuse of "being unable to handle his liquor" to say he needed some fresh air. Of course, he wasn't actually incapacitated.

Yang Su believed he couldn't bear the humiliation and needed to calm down. It conveniently allowed him to advance certain plans, so he didn't stop him. Wen Ruan understood even more. In that brief conversation, they had already exchanged enough coded messages to convey necessary information.

For example, confirming each other's safety, whether the Empress Sect had connections here, if Feng Guzi had been found, and—confirming that Yi Songxue was indeed here, hidden away. Where exactly he was hidden was still unknown, but regardless of the location, they had to save him.

Their seemingly antagonistic behavior was to gain Yang Su's trust, allowing him to act freely.

Before sitting down earlier, they had already separately explored several directions. What remained seemed to be...

Cang Ang pretended to be seething with anger, aimlessly wandering around, only to discover that although no one was following him openly, there were quite a few footsteps in the shadows, and dark figures would occasionally flash by—these were Yang Su's men.

No matter where he went, intentionally or unintentionally, someone was following him.

He suddenly recalled that during the banquet earlier, Yang Su had used Ah Ruan to strike at him...

If Yang Su's target today was him, there was no need for him to seek out trouble; it would be better to let opportunity come knocking on its own.

"Bring me some wine."

He boldly called for wine in front of the corridor, drank an entire jar in a grand manner, then smashed the empty jar onto the ground, pretending to be overwhelmed by the alcohol: "Someone, take me back to the flower hall."

Under his subtle hints, his personal attendant was 'led away' and didn't return in time. The hands that supported him belonged to a stranger. That servant gently coaxed him, leading him for a long time before delivering him to a room and closing the door.

This was the path leading to the inner quarters.

No wonder neither he nor Ah Ruan had noticed; they had underestimated human nature too much.

This seemed to be a rarely used side room, the furnishings somewhat old, with a peculiar fragrance lingering in the air. Cang Ang held his breath, took a pill from his sleeve, swallowed it, and proceeded further inside. He found a person on the bed, the covers thrown aside, revealing a middle-aged man bound tightly, with a cloth stuffed in his mouth.

Cang Ang recognized him: "Minister Yi?"

Yi Songxue was feigning sleep but opened his eyes immediately upon hearing the voice, trying to communicate through muffled sounds in his throat.

Cang Ang removed the cloth from his mouth: "Minister, do you recognize me?"

"Yes," Yi Songxue felt somewhat embarrassed but managed to restrain himself, "When handling affairs at the Canal Office, I had the good fortune to catch a glimpse of Lord Cang once from afar, and I also inquired about your reputation privately... To be honest, today, Yang Su has tied me up here not only to harm me but also to harm you. Our reputations will be ruined here, allowing him to eliminate me effortlessly, with no more obstacles in the local government. He could easily remove you under the pretext of being an official criminal and plant a new leader in the Canal Gang, ensuring that the gang is at his disposal without any hindrance."

It was clear that Yi Songxue had been drugged, his strength limited, his words coming out in fits and starts, yet his eyes shone brightly: "Yang Su has connections with the Empress Dowager's sect, infiltrating both my office and your Canal Gang... I cannot provide concrete evidence to you now, Lord Cang, but will you believe me?"

Cang Ang: "Last January, Minister Yi, as a mere scholar, dared to snatch a half-year-old infant from beneath a startled horse in broad daylight; last Dragon Boat Festival, you pitied the toil of farmers and personally went to the fields, offering them cooling tea for three months, ensuring no peasants suffered from heatstroke during the entire summer, whether it was planting or harvesting season; last New Year's Eve, Sizhou experienced a rare heavy snowfall, causing many poor farmers' houses to collapse. You personally oversaw disaster relief, personally asking about every detail regarding warm shelters, food, and porridge distribution. Except for the first day of the disaster, no one died among the people while you summoned a doctor on New Year's Eve after several days without rest..."

"Your actions are truly admirable; how dare I not believe you? Minister, rest assured, even if I have to shatter into pieces tonight, the Canal Gang will surely rescue you."

Yi Songxue: "...Thank you."

Cang Ang: "Can the minister stand up?"

"No," Yi Songxue felt somewhat awkward, "Although I knew they had ill intentions, I didn't consume much of their food and drink, but I still fell victim to their tricks. Although I can maintain my sanity, my limbs feel weak and unresponsive. If it's too troublesome... Lord Cang, you should prioritize your own safety. As long as one of us can escape this danger, it will be enough."

Yang Su deliberately set up such a situation, so the supervision must be strict, ready to expose everything at the right moment. It wouldn't be easy for them to leave quietly without attracting attention. They needed someone outside to cooperate.

Cang Ang said, "Minister, don't worry. My younger brother is currently outside. He's always been quick-witted and full of clever ideas. With his cooperation, we'll certainly be fine."

"Brother?"

Yi Songxue didn't know who Cang Ang was referring to, but he suddenly caught a scent. On Cang Ang's body was the smell of crabs. There was also another faint, almost imperceptible aroma, deeply etched in his memory, carrying a hint of greenness.

He hesitated for a moment before asking, "Did you just eat crabs?"

Cang Ang hadn't expected this question: "Yes."

Yi Songxue looked into Cang Ang's eyes: "Your younger brother... Is he named Ah Ruan?"

Cang Ang was surprised: "Huh?"

"There's nothing," Yi Songxue had already deduced the answer from Cang Ang's expression, closing his eyes that were now moistening, "I just didn't expect that after all these years, I would again owe Young Master a great favor..."

Cang Ang was silent for a moment.

He knew that his godson, whom he refused to acknowledge as such, had done many good deeds, but he hadn't anticipated that he had saved Yi Songxue as well, perhaps even forgetting about it himself.

"Minister, please wait. I've just learned that you're here, so I need to observe the surroundings and plan a route to ensure our escape without fail," Cang Ang untied all the ropes binding Yi Songxue and handed over two small bottles, "In times of crisis, remember to use these. The red bottle contains poison; anyone it touches will die. The blue bottle holds a life-saving elixir; no matter how critical your condition, it will save you if taken."

Without lingering any longer, he observed the outside through a crack in the window for a moment before decisively breaking through it. Before the guards could shout in alarm, he snapped their necks.

He then silently leaped and landed, reaching higher vantage points to survey the area. His mind raced, and after a few breaths, he took out a special bone whistle and blew it against his lips.

Wen Ruan recognized the sound of the whistle.

He smiled slightly, looking at Yang Su: "After all this time, Minister Yang, you still won't let me wander around the garden? Isn't the most popular activity here night strolls? Why visit if I don't take a stroll?"

Yang Su suddenly felt something was amiss. Wasn't the number of times this young master mentioned wanting to walk in the garden a bit excessive?

Moreover, if this young master was indeed as powerful in the capital as rumored, why hasn't the person upstairs shown any reaction? Hasn't it been long enough? It's impossible they haven't seen anything.

Could his judgment have been wrong?

A sharp glint appeared in his eyes, and he suddenly laughed: "Alright, steward—come, accompany the young master for a stroll."

His steward wasn't just any ordinary steward. By seeing what this young master wanted to see, he might be able to figure out the young master's true identity.

As for himself, he planned to return to the inner courtyard to check if the plan had succeeded. Cang Ang had been gone for quite some time, and it just so happened that Prince Jian was present today. If this scandal were to catch Prince Jian's eye... how would they ever recover!

Rushing into the inner courtyard, he found it eerily quiet. Yang Su's face darkened. Pushing open the door, he saw only one person on the bed: Yi Songxue.

"Are you all dead?! Where's Cang Ang? Why isn't he here?!" He narrowed his eyes, "Find him for me! Kill him!"

Seeing that Yi Songxue was awake, he couldn't hide his dirty thoughts anymore. Suddenly, another idea struck him—

Cang Ang was nearly thirty and unmarried. By setting up this situation, he could simultaneously disgust both individuals and fabricate a convincing story. But Prince Jian... was genuinely interested in men. Rumor had it that the prince's fiancée in the capital was a male nobleman from a marquis's household.

Although Yi Songxue was handsome, his age meant that Prince Jian likely wouldn't be interested. However, he could make Prince Jian disgusted with him without even needing to get close. All he had to do was push Yi Songxue forward—

Prince Jian would be disgusted, and wouldn't it be justified to charge Yi Songxue with a grave disrespect? Killing him would then be perfectly reasonable.

He ordered someone to help Yi Songxue up and gagged his mouth. Yang Su patted his face: "Minister Yi, don't blame me. When water is too clear, there are no fish. Who asked you to remain incorruptible and witness so many things? On your way to the netherworld, remember to swear that in your next life, don't be a good person!"

Yang Su instructed someone to support Yi Songxue, carefully adjusting his expression, and headed toward the pavilion, deliberately choosing poorly lit areas to avoid giving away his intentions.

"Your Highness... Prince Jian?"

He had already signaled his servants to prepare. As soon as the door was opened, they were to remove the cloth from Yi Songxue's mouth, creating an illusion that Yi Songxue was lunging forward of his own accord. It was common knowledge that this Sixth Highness was the most ill-tempered person in the capital. At that time, he would surely not remain indifferent and would likely kill Yi Songxue without any consideration for the circumstances, leaving him no chance to speak. Once this man was dead, whatever he said would be taken as truth.

He also had a reason to apologize, once this gift was delivered to Prince Jian's mansion...

How he knew this prince didn't matter; establishing a connection for future use was what mattered.

Wealth and honor come with risks, and with such a big opportunity, he couldn't afford to miss it!

Someone in the room came to open the door. Prince Jian, indeed, as he had hoped, had grown tired of sitting in the pavilion for too long. Moreover, as night fell deeper, one's stomach would inevitably grow hungry. He approached the door: "What is it?"

Yang Su's eyes lit up at the sight. Heaven was on his side!

"As the night grows deeper, this humble official has prepared wine and dishes, please do grace us with your presence—"

At the same time, he issued orders for his men to act.

Yet, Yi Songxue was clearly in the shadows. The pavilion was brightly lit, and when this Prince Jian stepped out into the dark, his vision should have been blurred. But it seemed as if he had eyes on the side of his head. Before anyone could lunge at him, he had already retreated to the side.

No one, not even Yi Songxue, could touch him.

Yang Su: ...

Zhu Yan: "So, Minister Yang wants to present someone to this prince?"

"This..." Yang Su wiped his sweat.

Zhu Yan: "It's not entirely unacceptable."

Yang Su's eyes instantly widened.

Zhu Yan suddenly raised his hand, pointing to a figure around the corner: "—This prince wants him."

Yang Su saw the person and suddenly fell silent.

Wen Ruan also fell silent.

He was startled, doubting his own eyes. How could the Sixth Highness be here? What did it mean to single him out? What was Yang Su doing? Who was the person lying on the ground?

His ears seemed to have gone deaf, and he was experiencing auditory hallucinations. What did the Sixth Highness just call himself?

This prince?

Wasn't his fiancé, the Sixth Highness, merely a prince?