Bai Zhao came out of the imperial palace and strolled leisurely through this ancient city.
Although he had been born in this city, he had very few chances to go out and have fun since he was young, so those rumors that he bullied men and abused women were complete nonsense!
But people are like that. When they hear someone spreading gossip in teahouses and taverns, and the target is someone like the heir of the Prince of Zhenbei, someone they would never normally get the chance to meet, they are very easy to sway.
In truth, they did not even know what Bai Zhao looked like. But that did not stop them from discussing him and disliking him.
Bai Zhao wore a magnolia-colored double-woven brocade robe with a dark pattern and a white jade crown on his head. He was handsome and refined. Just walking down the street, he drew a very high rate of double takes.
Ignoring the passionate gazes of the young ladies and married women along the way, Bai Zhao walked around with his hands behind his back.
He still had a basic understanding of Chang’an City. Every one of the one hundred and eight wards had a ward chief, and each ward had three or four soldiers from the Right Courage Guard stationed there. There was no curfew at night, so it was perfectly normal for the bustling markets to ring with song and music until dawn.
The place he was going to was Anye Ward, located roughly on the outer ring beyond the Imperial City.
Brothels and theaters, teahouses and cloth shops, restaurants and jewelry shops, all sorts of entertainment venues were clustered together, making it a famous money pit in Chang’an City.
After spending two hours wandering around and looking left and right, Bai Zhao entered Anye Ward when the sun was high overhead, pushed through the crowded streets, and made his way into the back street.
He raised his eyes and saw a theater.
Bai Zhao curled his lips in a smile and walked in curiously.
As soon as he entered, he saw a spacious stage on the first floor. Several performers and dancers were dancing gracefully on it, and beneath their thin gauze skirts, their slender waists were faintly visible, drawing loud cheers and catcalls from many men below.
Unlike a brothel, a theater did not have a madam specially selling the girls. Coming here to watch dances and listen to plays was the main attraction, so most of the customers were idle loafers and rough men who came just to feast their eyes.
Of course, there was also flesh trade here, and it was not expensive. If a customer became interested, he only had to tell the attendant, and if the girl agreed, he could go straight to the second floor… a VIP spot.
But the atmosphere here could not compare to a brothel.
Bai Zhao did not know the rules here, so he waved and called the attendant over.
“Do you have any empty private rooms on the second floor? Arrange a secluded place for me. The young master likes peace and quiet.”
The attendant, a boy in his twenties, stared wide-eyed at Bai Zhao, a little stunned.
This gentleman did not look like the kind of man who would come to a theater to look for women. With that face and that bearing, he had never seen anything like it in his life.
“What, none left? Is business really that good?”
Bai Zhao frowned slightly.
“No, no, we do have some! Which girl has this gentleman taken a fancy to? Point her out to me. I’m guessing they’d even have to pay you!”
The attendant snapped back to attention and hurriedly answered.
“What nonsense are you talking about? You mean drinking with someone? Mm, then the one in purple sitting over there.”
Bai Zhao was puzzled, but he still chose to respect the custom and casually pointed at one of the women.
The attendant nodded, trotted over to the woman, whispered something in her ear, and pointed at Bai Zhao standing in the corner by the door.
The woman’s eyes lit up immediately. The young ladies beside her followed the attendant’s finger and all looked a little annoyed, as if this woman had gotten a huge bargain!
Ignoring her sisters’ teasing, the woman quickly stood up and hurried toward Bai Zhao.
“This young gentleman looks unfamiliar. Come with me. I’ll take you to the second floor and find a quiet private room so we can ‘talk business’~”
As she spoke, the woman in purple took Bai Zhao’s arm with both hands, pressing her full chest tightly against him, which made Bai Zhao stiffen up a little and feel somewhat uncomfortable.
Tsk, the ancient world is nice! The girls are this enthusiastic!
Seeing that Bai Zhao was a little tense, the woman in purple secretly rejoiced: “Could I have run into a virgin today? And he’s so handsome! I’ve really struck gold!”
Her face grew even more alluring as she led Bai Zhao to a private room at the very end of the second floor.
As soon as they entered, Bai Zhao instructed the attendant behind them to bring a few dishes and two pots of wine. He casually tossed out a tael of silver, said that the rest was a reward for him, and then shut the door.
A trace of surprise flashed across the rather pretty face of the woman in purple.
So impatient? This young gentleman did not look like that kind of person! But it did not matter; she was not losing out. He was clearly a rich man!
Her delicate hand slid up Bai Zhao’s cheek. Standing on tiptoe, she breathed softly into his ear like orchids in spring.
“I did not expect you to be so impatient, young gentleman. And it’s still broad daylight~ But you’re so handsome that it makes my heart itch too~”
Bai Zhao’s ear was blown red by the hot breath from the woman’s mouth, and he was a little dazed.
Mainly because he really did not understand the rules here and thought this woman was simply a drinking companion.
Seeing Bai Zhao’s “shy” expression, a look of course-I-knew-it crossed the woman in purple’s spring-flushed face. She took Bai Zhao’s hand and led him toward the couch, all while trying to slip her hand into his clothes.
Bai Zhao jolted awake and grabbed the woman’s hand in return.
“Wait, what are you doing? Aren’t we just drinking?”
The woman let out a cry of pain when he grabbed her. Hearing Bai Zhao’s question, she rolled her charming eyes.
“Little brother, we’ve already come this far and you’re still playing games with me? Fine, fine, I’ll play along. If you’re shy, just say so… why bring up drinking? You want to get drunk so things become easier, right?”
While complaining about Bai Zhao in her heart, she still looked at him with a pitiful expression on her face.
“Young gentleman, you’re hurting me~ If you want to drink first, then I’ll drink with you. Just let go first, okay~”
Hearing the woman’s coquettish and resentful voice, Bai Zhao felt that something was wrong. No, this was a bit strange?
He thought about it, but could not figure it out. He could only blame it on his own outstanding looks, or on the fact that the woman thought he was rich.
He let go of the woman’s hand and sat down by the window railing, watching the dancers on the stage below while lightly tapping his fingers on the rail in time with the music.
Seeing this, the woman in purple poured a cup of tea from the table, fed it to Bai Zhao’s lips with her delicate hand, and said softly.
“Young gentleman, let me feed you tea.”
Bai Zhao frowned, took a sip, and after the woman set the cup down, he asked.
“What is your name?”
The woman answered cooperatively.
“My name is Ziyan.”
Bai Zhao lifted an eyebrow.
“Does your mother have the surname Zhao?”
Ziyan looked at Bai Zhao strangely, not understanding why this young gentleman would ask such a strange question, but she still obediently replied.
“No. I am an orphan. I do not know who my mother was, so I do not know my surname either.”
Bai Zhao had only asked casually, and he had not expected to touch on her painful past. He said a little awkwardly.
“Sorry. I did not mean to bring up your background, Miss. My apologies.”
Ziyan gave a calm smile, her tone rather cool.
“What is there to mind? I should be thanking you for your kindness, young gentleman~”
At that moment, the attendant came into the room carrying wine and dishes and said respectfully.
“Sir, please enjoy yourselves. I will take my leave first and not disturb your pleasure.”
After saying that, he withdrew and even thoughtfully closed the door tightly.
After the attendant left, Ziyan walked to the door, locked it from the inside, turned around to look at Bai Zhao, and was just about to speak when Bai Zhao got in first.
“Wait, Miss Ziyan, why are you locking the door?”
Ziyan was stunned by the question and instinctively covered her cherry-red lips.
“Ah? Does the young gentleman like it when the door is not locked? Aren’t you afraid of being disturbed?”
Bai Zhao was baffled.
“No, what is there to be disturbed while eating? Why have I felt something off from the start?”
Ziyan was even more baffled. Since you’re already here, why are you still pretending, little brother? I do not want to play anymore! Hurry up and get to the point!
Thinking this, Ziyan acted on it directly. In three steps, she reached Bai Zhao’s side. Before he could react, she wrapped her arms around him and said.
“Young gentleman, stop teasing me. What decent person comes to the second floor of a theater just to eat? Don’t you know the second floor is specifically for solving the guests’ needs?
Good young gentleman, stop playing around. I cannot wait anymore~”
After saying that, she even leaned in to kiss Bai Zhao.
Only then did Bai Zhao suddenly realize: damn it, he really did not know!
No wonder Ziyan and the attendant had seemed strange from the very beginning. When he came upstairs, the loafers downstairs all looked at him with astonished expressions. They must have thought this rich young gentleman was so eager that he was doing this in broad daylight!
Bai Zhao was utterly speechless. He did not have time to think any further and directly pushed Ziyan away.
He pulled out a token from his waist and showed it to Ziyan. On the white jade token were two large characters: Grass Snake!
After being pushed away and nearly losing her temper… this was going a bit too far, little brother!… Ziyan saw the token and looked closely at it. Then she hurriedly dropped to one knee, clasped her fists, and said in a lowered voice.
“I pay my respects to the Young Master! I did not know it was you, Young Master. I was rude and offensive. Please forgive me, Young Master!”
Bai Zhao smoothed out the wrinkled front of his robe, nodded, and said softly.
“Get up. Ignorance is not a crime. I did not understand the rules, so this misunderstanding is my fault.”
“Thank you, Young Master.”
Ziyan thanked him and stood up, studying Bai Zhao with curiosity. She had only heard the big sister mention the Young Master before, but had never actually seen him. However, the master had said that whoever held the white jade token was the Young Master.
Seeing him today, he was exactly as the big sister had said! His bearing was outstanding and detached from the ordinary. It was just a pity that she could not have a fleeting romance with the Young Master…
Bai Zhao looked at Ziyan’s regretful expression and felt a little speechless, then asked in a low voice.
“Are you in charge here? I have only ever heard Father mention Grass Snake before. You are the first Grass Snake member I have met since I arrived in the capital.”
Ziyan replied respectfully.
“Yes. This is only a small theater, and I am in charge of it. The Master probably did not tell you, Young Master, because he did not want you to come into contact with these shadowy forces.”
Grass Snake took its name from the idea of laying out a plan over a thousand li, like a grass snake leaving a faint trace. It was an intelligence organization founded by the current Prince of Zhenbei, Bai Yuan, with his own hands.
Its members came from all walks of life, but the main people in charge were all from the Northern Pacification Army.
Bai Yuan had been running the Grass Snake organization for more than fifteen years. Over those fifteen years, Grass Snake spread across the world!
Not only in Great Qian, but also in the Wolf Kingdom to the north, Nanzhao to the south, and the thirty-six small countries of the Western Regions… all had traces of Grass Snake!
Such a huge intelligence organization naturally brought Bai Yuan a great deal of information, allowing him to learn many secrets.
But when it came to the murderer from back then, Bai Yuan never allowed Bai Zhao to investigate. Bai Zhao knew that his father was protecting him.
However, he had the soul of an adult inside him, and in his past life he had been an ace agent! He could not possibly leave this matter alone forever.
Before coming to Chang’an, Bai Zhao had pestered Bai Yuan until he agreed to let him investigate this matter and even handed over the jade token that symbolized the Young Master of Grass Snake.
But Bai Yuan ordered him not to let Lu Xinrou find out, or else father and son would both be in for a bad time!
To Bai Yuan, his son had grown up. He could not protect him forever. Not to mention that back then, he had nearly lost this only son because of a moment of carelessness.
Bai Yuan loved Bai Zhao, but in the end Bai Zhao still had to grow strong on his own. This was something he had to go through as the heir of the Prince of Zhenbei, and as the future Prince of Zhenbei.
Lu Xinrou was not nearly that reasonable. If she found out, both father and son would be in huge trouble. Bai Yuan was truly afraid of that lady.
Bai Zhao had come to the theater today precisely to meet members of Grass Snake. This theater was only one of their bases. According to his father, every major brothel in Chang’an City had Grass Snake members in it!
As for why he picked this place, it was because Bai Zhao was really embarrassed to go to a brothel in broad daylight. If he went out at night, that girl Chuntao would probably start making trouble again, and his mother would break his legs too!
This place was secluded enough, and it was also the closest to his own Prince’s Residence.
As for why Bai Zhao happened to pick a woman who turned out to be a Grass Snake member, that was because Bai Yuan had told him that all the women in Grass Snake who worked in brothels and theaters wore a special hairpin shaped like a snake. Sure enough, Ziyan was wearing one.
Back to the main point. After hearing Ziyan’s answer, Bai Zhao paused, then asked.
“I need all the intelligence regarding the poisoning incident from back then.”
Without the slightest hesitation, Ziyan began to recall and explain.
About the time it takes to burn one stick of incense later, Ziyan summed up.
“Back then, after you were taken to the Northern Border, Young Master, the Master ordered us to lie low and investigate secretly.
But the person who poisoned you seemed to have vanished into thin air. All traces of them seemed to have been erased by an invisible hand! Let alone finding the mastermind.
However, we did find a mysterious force in the capital with an unknown identity. It has been entrenched there for a long time and hidden extremely deeply! Many major murder cases in the capital over the years were connected to them.
Many deaths of powerful people had their shadow in them. The big sister suspects that they may have been connected to your matter back then, Young Master.
And the big sister speculates that behind them may be the Fourth Prince and the Duke Dingguo’s Estate!
Of course, this is only speculation. Young Master, you only need to keep it in mind.”
Bai Zhao nodded, holding his wine cup and staring quietly at the liquid as he thought.
“Hmm, there is no need to keep investigating the person who poisoned me. He is now in the emperor’s hands!
Even if we caught him, it would be useless. He would not be able to say anything useful.”
“Yes.”
Ziyan was surprised that her own Young Master knew where that person was, and that he was in the emperor’s hands, but she understood the principle of not asking what she should not ask.
“Duke Dingguo, the Fourth Prince. Tsk. Something still feels wrong. Did they really hate me that much back then? To take such a huge risk just to kill me? Something still does not add up…”
Bai Zhao drank a cup of wine and murmured to himself.