Chapter 395: The Ghost Market’s Secrets

Chapter 395: The Ghost Market's Secrets

The prison carts were ready and waiting. When the emperor and his group came up from below, the soldiers threw these people into the prison carts one by one.

"What is that? A dwarf? So small, how could he be in the underground city? I’d swear he was a rat spirit!"

"Ugh, with that sharp face and monkey-like looks, he really seems like a rat spirit transformed!"

"We’ve never been to the underground city ourselves, but we’ve heard that once you go in, if you defy them, you really can’t come out!"

While the commoners were discussing, Liu Ru Shi stepped forward and said to them, "You might not know, but this is the Ghost King of the ghost market, who has controlled the ghost market for many years, with hundreds of followers, and they are all very powerful!"

"Yeah, most of his followers are wanted by the court, and many are also wanted by various martial sects in the jianghu!" Xiao Yin said.

"I know him, I recognize him! That’s the Iron Claw Demon from the former Xiaoyao Sect. That guy’s known for killing and ripping out hearts, extremely ruthless. How could he appear here? It’s truly despicable!"

"The ghost market’s a den of scoundrels, all with ulterior motives, all bad people!"

"Yeah, I heard brothel girls went there and never returned. I don’t know if they were eaten or what!"

"Nah, those girls were pregnant and went there to get rid of the babies, but once they went, they never came back!"

"By the way, I’ve heard they ran away, but actually..."

Everyone knows why the moat stinks so bad.

But as long as their own family’s safe, who cares about a brothel girl?

"Eunuch Gao, check the city’s population with the Ministry of Revenue. Register everyone, and leave no loopholes anywhere!" the emperor ordered.

All around, people nodded, "We need to investigate. Things were a mess a few years back. Many people came and went in the ghost market, drinking and seeking pleasure at night, committing murder, arson, and all sorts of evil deeds. If we don’t investigate for long, something is bound to happen!"

"The ghost market’s probably at Shili Slope, outside the city. The prime minister once said that all his property is at Shili Slope," Baiyu said.

"Shili Slope was ignored before, but now’s our chance!" Xiao Yin took Ruo Xi Baby from Ci Xin’s arms and said, "Xier, help your uncle tame those beasts. He’s scared!"

Ruo Xi Baby looked at her brave and handsome uncle and couldn’t help but blow a bubble with her little mouth.

"Uncle, you’re just waiting to split the gold and treasures when it’s cooler. Why are you being so polite to me now?"

Ruo Xi Baby called her uncle out without mercy.

Only insiders could hear her thoughts, and they wouldn’t laugh at him.

They all knew that this emperor was kind-hearted. Outsiders called him a tyrant because after he became emperor, he killed those traitors who colluded with foreign enemies and also executed those arrogant old ministers who openly defied him.

Loyal ministers who served the country and people, even if they were somewhat blunt in their words, he wouldn’t be too harsh on them. Instead, he would listen to their opinions.

That’s why the Imperial Tutor, who served three dynasties and stayed loyal to Xiao Yin till death, continued to help him manage the vast court.

The prime minister and empress’s group bribed officials and stole gold and jewels from various places. They sealed these treasures and didn’t touch them, only increasing the guards at Shili Slope.

Every autumn and winter, famines hit different regions. Xiao Yin intended to keep these gold and jewels to distribute to the people when needed.

But now the ghost market’s underground near Shili Slope, they could no longer leave Shili Slope unattended.

They acted fast. Ruo Xi Baby got her uncle to take her to Shili Slope outside the city.

After a sleepless night, Ruo Xi Baby dozed off on the way.

Xiao Yin couldn’t bear to wake the baby, so he just held her and had others go ahead to control the fierce beasts.

Yuan Hui, Ci Xin, and others all went over, even Xiaoyue headed to the beast arena.

These beasts were either tributes from the northwest and Xiyue regions or purchased at high prices—notoriously ferocious, largely wild and untamed, captured by various methods and sent to the capital.

Initially, it was the third prince who sought to stir trouble, hence he acquired those wild beasts.

However, the second prince killed him before the third prince could act, and the Lin family swiftly aligned themselves with the second prince.

Then, the second prince also died.

Finally, only the man Lin Rou married returned from the frontier without pause, came back to the palace, eliminated the rebels, and then stormed to the front of the hall, compelling the emperor to abdicate the throne in his favor.

Since then, the Lin family has been in charge of managing and guarding these fierce beasts.

In fact, Emperor Xiao Yin always knew that the Imperial Tutor had hidden the gold and silver treasures behind the cages of the fierce beasts, and no one dared to venture there lightly.

Over the years, the emperor left the beast arena untouched, likely because, as the Imperial Tutor put it, the emperor was merely entrusting the treasures to the prime minister temporarily.

"Roar!"

With a roar, the guards and soldiers who were about to rush in were stunned.

Even Baiyu, known for his prowess, was momentarily stunned.

Someone asked, "Is that a tiger?"

"Indeed, it's said to be fiercely wild and untamed, restrained by numerous chains. More than ten years ago, the tiger in the beast arena killed the beast tamer, and since then, performances by beast tamers have been rare."

"Only the robust men from the northwest, known as the Tartars, can tame this tiger!"

The people were terrified, retreating a considerable distance.

"Roar roar roar~"

With the roars, the people were scared and screamed.

Xiao Yin was about to raise his hand to cover Xiao Xi'er's ears to prevent the tiger's roar from disturbing her.

Then the little girl waved her hand dismissively: "Annoying!"

"Meow!" The tiger, which was about to charge towards the cage as if to kill everyone, now let out a soft cry, as if begging for mercy.

"This, this is the emperor's power!"

"It must be the true dragon emperor here, so even the tiger is afraid!"

"I think it might be the Little Princess, have you forgotten the power of our Imperial Grand Princess?"