“Heroes, you have all been deceived,” Ji Huaian said with a regretful expression.
“Kid, what do you mean by that?” the bandit leader asked.
“If I’m not mistaken, all of you heroes are from out of town, right?”
“So what if we are?”
“Then guess this, why didn’t the employer hire local kidnappers? Why travel far to find you?”
“Because there are no local kidnappers,” one bandit answered quickly.
“Get lost…” the bandit leader shoved his subordinate aside and glared fiercely, “Speak clearly. Stop beating around the bush.”
“Because no one local dares to kidnap this sixth young master… cough, I mean, no one dares to kidnap me, the Young Marquis.”
The black‑faced bandit leader laughed coldly. “I know the Ji family holds great power, but after we get the money, we leave Yangzhou. The world is vast. What can the Marquis Residence possibly do to us?”
“I said you’ve been deceived, and there’s another reason.”
“You’d better not play tricks, brat.”
“Please listen, good sirs. The employer only offered 500 taels of silver. That is not only an insult to me but also an insult to all of you. He is exploiting you, assuming you don’t understand the real value.”
“500 taels for a life is not little. Stop trying to provoke us.”
“You misunderstand. A life is a life, but each life has a different value. For example, if you have a treasure worth 50,000 taels, but the buyer wants it for only 500 taels, isn’t that hateful? Isn’t that bullying you? Isn’t he treating you like fools? After buying it, he might even mock you behind your back, saying you’re idiots…”
“Big Brother, what he’s saying makes sense.”
“I think so too.”
Several kidnappers nodded.
“Unforgivable…” The bandit leader became furious and slashed the nearby table in half with one strike.
“Big Brother, we must teach that old man a lesson.”
“He dared to treat us like fools. We must teach him properly.”
“Don’t rush. The hostage is still in our hands.”
“That’s right, we’ll take the silver from the Marquis Residence first, then deal with that old bastard.”
The kidnappers began discussing heatedly again.
“Heroes, I have a suggestion,” Ji Huaian spoke again.
“Say it.” The leader stared at him cautiously.
“I am willing to spend 50,000 taels to buy back my own life, and another 10,000 taels to buy the information about the employer. He deceived you, so allow me to avenge you. How about it?”
The black‑faced leader was stunned at first, then burst into laughter. “Deal, but we must get the money first.”
“That’s simple. There is a jade pendant on my waist. Take it and send someone to the Marquis Residence. You will receive the silver immediately.”
The leader gestured, and a kidnapper approached to take the jade pendant.
At that moment, everything changed.
One of the boatmen suddenly broke free from the ropes and punched the kidnapper directly in the face.
With a loud bang, the bandit flew backward, crashed onto the floor, and teeth mixed with blood splattered everywhere.
“Damn it, kill him!”
Seven or eight kidnappers charged forward with blades raised. The boatman rolled swiftly to the feet of the two closest kidnappers and struck both of them away with fierce punches.
Then it became even more unbelievable. The boatman leaped, punched, kicked, and swept through them. His movements were fierce and dazzling, knocking down one kidnapper after another, leaving Ji Huaian completely stunned.
In just a few breaths, aside from the leader, all the kidnappers were lying on the floor. Some were unconscious, some had their limbs broken, screaming in agony.
But the fight wasn’t over yet. The noise alarmed the kidnappers outside, and they rushed in one after another with blades drawn.
“Quick, attack together, kill him…”
The bandit leader glanced at the Young Marquis and secretly moved closer, intending to take him hostage.
Ji Huaian was still stunned by the shocking battle and completely unaware of the approaching danger.
The bandit leader reached his side and grabbed toward his arm.
Just as he was about to seize him, a short sword pierced straight through his palm.
“Ah…”
The leader let out a pig‑like scream.
A slender figure flashed before the Young Marquis. The girl raised her long leg and kicked the bandit leader heavily in the chest, sending him flying.
Xiaohong?
Ji Huaian stared blankly at the girl in front of him.
Xiaohong was a maid of Zuìhuā Tower. She had been tied up with the boatman earlier, but no one knew when she escaped.
A mere boatman and a maid, yet the two of them together subdued more than ten armed kidnappers in just a moment.
Especially Xiaohong, wielding a short sword, her strikes were fast, accurate, deadly, each stroke bringing blood. It was terrifying.
Zuìhuā Tower actually had such experts?
Looking at the kidnappers rolling and screaming on the ground and smelling the thick scent of blood in the air, Ji Huaian felt his heart tremble.
After finishing off the enemies, Xiaohong walked toward him with the short sword in hand.
“Xiaohong, what… what are you doing?”
“Young Marquis, don’t panic. We are on your side.” As she spoke, she sliced through the ropes binding him, then knelt on one knee.
“Honglian greets the Young Marquis.” The boatman also came forward and knelt. “Yuan Tong failed to protect you properly and startled you. Please punish me, Young Marquis.”
“You two are…?” Ji Huaian stared at them in confusion.
His mind spun rapidly, yet he couldn’t think of any connection between them and the Young Marquis.
“Young Marquis, we are the hidden guards of the Marquis Residence,” Yuan Tong said.
Honglian added, “The Marquis knows the Young Marquis often visits Zuìhuā Tower. He feared you may encounter danger, so he sent us to secretly protect you.”
So that was it. Seems his cheap father really cared about this useless sixth son. But that was a good thing.
Ji Huaian smiled with satisfaction. “Honglian, Yuan Tong, you have done well protecting your master. There is no crime. Once we return, you will both be heavily rewarded.”
“Thank you, Young Marquis.”
“Stand up…”
He hurriedly helped them up with a smile, but when his hand touched Honglian’s delicate arm, he immediately pulled back in shock.
The original Young Marquis had harassed this girl before. He had even wanted to take advantage of her several times, but she always escaped cleverly, and he even scolded her because of it.
What a beast, always causing trouble for me… He nervously glanced at Honglian and saw she remained respectful without resentment, so he finally relaxed.
Looking carefully, Honglian’s features were delicate and charming. She was very pleasing to the eye, though still young and slightly thin, not as mature and full as Du Niang.
Then he examined Yuan Tong. Though dressed like an ordinary boatman with a rat‑like face, his earlier combat performance proved he was an expert—swift movement and powerful fists.
“Young Marquis, how do we deal with these people?” Yuan Tong asked.
He composed himself and thought. “Take them back to the Marquis Residence and investigate who hired them.”
The two naturally obeyed.
Everything became simple afterward. Honglian freed the courtesan and the others, while Yuan Tong tied all the kidnappers tightly and steered the boat back.
Shouxi Lake was one of Yangzhou’s most beautiful scenic spots. Zuìhuā Tower stood beside it, famous because the women there were exceptionally beautiful, enchanting countless scholars and nobles.
After about two hours, the pleasure boat docked beside Zuìhuā Tower.
Before parting, Du Niang quietly pulled Honglian aside and slipped a letter into her hand.
“Honglian, please deliver this to the Marquis for me.”
Without waiting for her reply, Du Niang walked toward Zuìhuā Tower with another maid, a sly smile appearing at the corner of her lips.
A letter? What is this woman planning?
Honglian looked at the envelope in her hand, puzzled.