Ziyan added another cup of wine and stood quietly to the side, not disturbing Bai Zhao’s train of thought.
Bai Zhao thought for a while, but he still couldn’t figure out what was wrong. Still, he had a nagging feeling that things were not that simple.
After all, take the Fourth Prince as an example. Although the two had a small conflict when they were children, that was not enough to make him poison Bai Zhao.
Even if that Fourth Prince was extremely petty, how old had he been back then? He was still just a child.
The only explanation was that he later came into contact with this force, so the poisoning incident should have had nothing to do with him.
As for Duke Dingguo’s Estate, given the generations of conflict between the two families, it did have a motive to do this.
But this force was so mysterious that even his father’s Grass Snake and Emperor Qian’s Secret Intelligence Directorate could not uncover it, which showed that it was no ordinary faction.
Given the scale of Duke Dingguo’s Estate, it would be very difficult for them to cultivate such a force.
Yesterday, in the Imperial Study, Emperor Qian had suspected that someone was colluding with the Tianlang Dynasty, which meant that this force might have had the Tianlang Dynasty’s support.
Tsk. It really was complicated. No wonder his father and Emperor Qian had investigated for so many years without finding anything.
Bai Zhao felt that this was a troublesome matter and started to get a headache.
Seeing that her Young Master had frowned, Ziyan obediently ran behind Bai Zhao, stretched out her slender jade-like hands, and gently massaged his shoulders and neck.
Bai Zhao raised an eyebrow and did not refuse. Honestly, it did feel quite comfortable.
After a brief moment of thought, Bai Zhao half-closed his eyes and asked Ziyan, “Ziyan, the ‘big sister’ you mentioned, is she your superior? What is her name, and what is her status?”
While massaging him attentively, Ziyan answered respectfully in a soft voice: “To answer Young Master, the ‘big sister’ I am referring to is the person in charge of my branch in the capital. I do not know who she is, nor what her identity is.
Lower-ranking members of Grass Snake do not know the identities of their superiors. Is there something Young Master needs that I cannot handle?”
Bai Zhao shook his head. “No, I just wanted to learn more about Grass Snake. How do you usually pass messages?”
Ziyan continued softly, “Within Grass Snake, we have the Flower Hall. By the way, the Flower Hall is made up of women from brothels and theaters. Young Master should know that.”
Seeing Bai Zhao nod, Ziyan went on: “We usually do not contact each other, but if there is important intelligence, we place it at a small tavern in the West Market. Of course, that is only the intelligence hub for my area. The tavern is called Smoke and Rain Guest.
Also, the intelligence is encrypted. The encryption method was invented by the master, and it is called Morse code.”
Bai Zhao nodded. He knew this. He had even taught it to his father back then. In his previous life as an ace agent, things like this were basic knowledge.
Morse code, intelligence personnel training, infiltration, assassination, military training methods, even firearm manufacturing…
Bai Zhao knew too many things. He could only reveal a few of them to his father; otherwise, there would be no way to explain them.
Even so, when he was ten and first proposed Morse code and the structure of an intelligence organization, Bai Yuan had looked at him like he was a monster.
Later, in the Northern Pacification Army, he had successively proposed modern training methods, blast furnace construction, and steel refining methods.
At the same time, he came up with many ways to make money, such as soap, glass, perfume, and so on, helping Bai Yuan amass a huge amount of silver. Otherwise, how could such a vast Grass Snake have been established?
Of course, Emperor Qian knew about this. Bai Yuan handed over fifty percent of the profits to Emperor Qian, using the excuse that one of his subordinates had discovered a strange person in the northern borderlands, and he hid Bai Zhao’s existence from everyone.
Emperor Qian got fifty percent of the profit without having to worry about anything, so he was naturally satisfied. Besides, he knew very well that Bai Yuan had no rebellious intentions. Otherwise, given the Bai family’s power, it was hard to say whether Great Qian would still be surnamed Bai or Jiang.
Although Bai Zhao had participated in Grass Snake’s reforms, he was still not very clear about the exact locations of the intelligence exchanges. Since it was inconvenient to go to a brothel, he came to the theater to ask a Grass Snake member about it.
“Mm, I understand. Ziyan, help me send a piece of intelligence to your superior, Big Sister. I do not have time to go myself.”
When Bai Zhao said this, he felt a little awkward and touched his nose. In truth, he really was too embarrassed to go to a brothel in broad daylight, and at night it was impossible for other reasons…
Bai Zhao took a letter from his bosom, solemnly took Ziyan’s hand, and handed it to her. “This piece of intelligence is very important. Give it to your superior. It will tell her how to handle it. All right, you’re done here. You may leave now.”
After hearing this, Ziyan pouted her delicate lips in dissatisfaction. She had wanted to create some wonderful memories with the Young Master! It looked like that was not going to happen.
But she knew how important this matter was. She tucked the letter into her bosom, bowed gracefully, and withdrew.
Bai Zhao looked at Ziyan’s reluctant expression and also felt a little awkward.
“Damn it, this woman is drooling over this young master’s body!”
But Bai Zhao had no way to respond. It was not that he thought Ziyan was dirty; rather, he simply had no such desire.
Besides, the two of them were in a Young Master-and-subordinate relationship. There were so many female subordinates in the Flower Hall already. If he got involved with one, he would be exhausted! This precedent absolutely could not be set.
In that letter, he had drawn the tattoo of the person who had poisoned him back then. He had seen it by accident that year. The tattoo looked like a burning wolf’s head.
Just from that tattoo alone, one would indeed think of the Tianlang Dynasty. But when things go against the norm, there is always something suspicious behind them. Bai Zhao felt that this matter was not so simple.
So in the letter, Bai Zhao instructed that so-called Big Sister to notify all Grass Snake members in Chang’an as much as possible, investigate all clues related to that tattoo, and then have the overall person in charge of Chang’an come to the Prince’s Residence to see him three days later.
Once everything was handled, Bai Zhao stretched and started eating!
After eating, Bai Zhao strolled back to the Prince’s Residence with his hands behind his back.
Prince of Zhenbei’s Estate
That morning, Lu Xinrou, Chuntao, and Qiulan had already learned from the young eunuch who came to the estate to read the imperial decree about Bai Zhao’s actions at court that day.
After the young eunuch left, Chuntao shouted in a sweet voice: “The Heir really showed everyone his strength at morning court today! Let those people who look down on our Heir keep talking bad about Your Highness the Heir. Our Heir is not a wastrel at all!”
Then she complained to Qiulan: “Sister Qiulan, why didn’t you wake me up this morning? I missed such a happy moment, and I did not get to share the joy with the Heir right away because I did not get up to accompany him to court. Waaah.”
Qiulan’s clear eyes flickered with a trace of helplessness, and her cool voice said, “The Heir saw that you were sleeping soundly and did not want to disturb you, so he told me not to wake you. Besides, Your Highness the Heir also did not ask me to go along.”
Chuntao pouted, unhappy with Qiulan’s explanation, but her round apricot eyes were still full of affection as she gazed at Bai Zhao and giggled, “Your Highness the Heir is so good to Chuntao, hehe.”
Lu Xinrou looked at the two girls in front of her, a smile on her lips. Although they were maidservants beside Ran’er, Lu Xinrou truly treated them like daughters.
“Chuntao is a clever, playful, innocent girl with no scheming, and she is wholeheartedly good to my son. Qiulan, on the other hand, looks cool and distant on the surface, but in her heart her concern for Bai Zhao is no less than Chuntao’s. She is fully devoted as well, and her martial arts are also quite good, so she has helped my son quite a bit.”
Thinking of this, Lu Xinrou raised her finger and gently rubbed her brow, letting out a quiet sigh.
“I do not know whether Emperor Qian handing over the task of receiving the delegation to Ran’er this time is a blessing or a curse. I do not care which family it is. If anyone dares to target my son, they should not blame me for turning hostile later!”
A fierce look spread across Lu Xinrou’s dignified face!
Women are weak by nature, but mothers are strong! Not to mention that Lu Xinrou had once been known as the Fire Lady in Jiangnan! After getting married, her temper had become much more restrained, but if anyone dared to touch Bai Zhao, she would fight them to the death!
With Bai Yuan not in the capital, she naturally had to protect her son.
Chuntao heard from Old Mo that Bai Zhao would be going shopping in Chang’an City after court. After having lunch with Lu Xinrou, she pulled Qiulan and waited at the gate of the Prince of Zhenbei’s Estate…
Bai Zhao came out of Anye Ward and picked out a few trinkets, thinking of taking them back for Chuntao and Qiulan. After half an hour of choosing, he finally returned to the Prince of Zhenbei’s Estate.
Chuntao was squatting on the stone steps at the entrance of the Prince’s Residence, her small fair hands supporting her round chin. Her big watery eyes stared intently at the street corner, eagerly waiting for Bai Zhao to arrive.
Qiulan, on the other hand, was leaning against the stone lion, silently looking toward the street corner as well.
Suddenly, Bai Zhao’s figure appeared at the street corner. Both Chuntao’s and Qiulan’s eyes lit up at once.
From a distance, Bai Zhao saw that beside the left stone lion at the main gate of the Prince of Zhenbei’s Estate there was a little “yearning stone” squatting there. Oh, no, there were two of them, and another one was leaning behind the stone lion.
He was just about to smile and greet the two girls when he saw that little girl Chuntao spring to her feet and run quickly toward him, calling out in a sweet voice, “Heir, you’re finally back? Have you had lunch?
Heir, why didn’t you take me and Qiulan with you when you went shopping in Chang’an?” Although her words carried a hint of coquettish complaint, they were full of dependence on Bai Zhao.
Qiulan, meanwhile, stood up straight and coolly looked at Bai Zhao, saying nothing and not approaching him, but the longing in her autumn-water eyes was obvious to Bai Zhao as he got closer.
Seeing Chuntao running toward him, Bai Zhao hurried forward a few steps and opened his arms to catch her.
With affection in his eyes and brows, he smiled lightly. “Ah, wasn’t it because little Chuntao did not get up this morning?
Tomorrow, tomorrow I will take you and Qiulan out for a walk. I also bought gifts for you both as an apology. Come on, Qiulan, come here. You have a share too.”
Bai Zhao beckoned Qiulan over while signaling Chuntao to let go of him so he could take the gifts from his bosom.
Who would have thought that Chuntao would not react at all? Instead, she clung to Bai Zhao’s chest and sniffed around like a little dog.
Then she raised her head and stared seriously into Bai Zhao’s eyes. Her tender, adorable little face was full of solemnity as she said, “Heir! Why do you have the smell of cheap powder on you? Did the Heir go to a brothel? In broad daylight?!”
When Qiulan heard this, shock also flashed across her eyes.
“The Heir is not that kind of person, is he?
When he traveled the martial world, many female martial artists were infatuated with our Heir, and some women who were very confident in their looks even offered themselves to him.
But our Heir had always looked at them with complete disdain. Why is he suddenly so eager now that he has just arrived in Chang’an? Could there be some misunderstanding?”
Seeing Qiulan looking at him with equal suspicion and shock, Bai Zhao’s face darkened.
“What, in your eyes, am I that kind of person? Huh? Going to a brothel in broad daylight? Do you think I have no shame?
Besides, I have not even tasted either of you yet, so why would I go eat the wildflowers outside? The smell of powder on me has a reason. Lord’s business is not something children should meddle in!
If you dare suspect your own Heir like this, be careful, or I will spank both of you!”
After hearing Bai Zhao’s explanation, the stone in Chuntao’s heart quietly fell away.
Since the Heir said there was a reason and told her not to ask, then she would not ask.
But hearing her Heir say that she and Qiulan had not been “tasted” yet, and calling them children, Chuntao secretly pouted.
“Hmph, bad Heir. He only knows how to talk. He always thinks I am a child, even though he is only a few months older than me! Besides, in ordinary commoners’ families, some girls become mothers at fourteen. I am already sixteen, and I am not little at all, okay?”
Of course, Chuntao was too embarrassed to say this out loud.
As for the spanking threat, Chuntao did not take it seriously at all. The Heir would never really spank her and Qiulan, right?
After hearing Bai Zhao’s words, Qiulan’s cool and beautiful face flushed slightly.
She did not object to consummating with Bai Zhao. After all, a personal maid was originally meant to serve in bed. It was only because Bai Zhao spoiled the two of them that he had never made such a demand.
But hearing these words come from Bai Zhao himself, and with Qiulan’s naturally cool temperament, she still felt rather shy.
Seeing that both girls had calmed down, Bai Zhao took out two hairpins and some rouge and powder from his bosom and let Chuntao and Qiulan split them between themselves. Then he led the two little beauties into the Prince’s Residence, one on each side.
After meeting Lu Xinrou, Bai Zhao also told his mother about Chen Wei’s attitude and that Chen Wei had asked him to visit the Chen Estate.
Lu Xinrou looked at her grown son and said in a somewhat domineering tone, “Mm, I know Chen Wei’s character. He is a man of feeling. And as your future father-in-law, helping you is only right!
That old man made a marriage contract with your father back then. If it had not been for the sake of his wife’s face, and after considering many things, I would never have agreed!
My son is more than enough for anyone! Later, when that old man saw that you were ignorant and unlearned, he actually wanted to break off the engagement. Hmph! This time, at least he knows what is good for him!”
Bai Zhao looked at his mother with admiration, gave her a thumbs-up, and praised, “Mother’s words are truly domineering!”
Then he cautiously tested the waters. “In that case, how about we just cancel the engagement? After all, Mother does not seem to like Chen Wei either, right?”
Lu Xinrou stared at Bai Zhao with a fake smile, reached out, and twisted his ear, saying in a deep voice, “Bai Zhao! Do not think I do not know what you are up to! Flatter your mother a couple of times and then you want to break off the engagement? Do you think your mother is a fool?
Besides, although I do not like Chen Wei, he is your future father-in-law! It is very rude of you to call him by his name like that! Is that how your mother taught you when you were little?
And my friendship with Chen Wei’s wife, Lady Liu, is very close! How could I just call off the engagement? Then how would I be any different from Chen Wei?
That girl Chen Shuyi is such a wonderful young lady. You have not even seen her, and you are already saying no? Your father and I worked hard to consider every side and choose a wife for you. You will marry her whether you want to or not!
Bai Zhao, do you understand me?!”
Bai Zhao bent over and pretended to cry out in pain, playing along with his mother.
Hearing his mother say so much, he knew this was not the time to provoke her, so he could only beg for mercy: “Mother, your child knows he was wrong. Mother, let go quickly. My ear is going to be twisted off! I will think about it carefully!”
“It is not ‘think about it carefully’! It is ‘you will definitely marry her’! This New Year, your father will return to the capital from the Northern Border to report on his duties. At that time, the wedding will be held for the two of you! This is a notification, not a discussion!”
Seeing her son grimacing in pain, Lu Xinrou loosened her grip, pointed at Bai Zhao’s nose, and said those words.
Bai Zhao rubbed his reddened ear and could only obediently say, “Oh.”
Seeing that her son was still unwilling, Lu Xinrou immediately felt a headache coming on.
“Why is this brat so stubborn?
Although he has gone against me and Old Bai a few times since he was little, in general he has always been very obedient. It could even be said that Bai Zhao rarely caused me and Old Bai any worry!
Why is he so resistant when it comes to marriage? What family does not follow ‘parents’ command, matchmaker’s word’? Where does all this mutual affection come from? Marriages between noble families are about suitability, not liking each other!”
Lu Xinrou sighed and waved her hand at Bai Zhao. “Forget it. I cannot be bothered to talk to you anymore. In a few days, bring some gifts and go visit that old man Chen Wei.
Take a good look at your future wife. See for yourself what she is like. Would your mother ever harm you?
All right, all right, get out of here, you brat. You are always the one who makes your mother angry!”
Bai Zhao felt helpless, but he still had to go up and coax his mother. He ran behind Lu Xinrou, pounded her back, and ingratiated himself by saying, “Mother, I know you are doing this for my own good. I will go take a look in a few days. Do not be angry, Mother. Your child knows he was wrong~”
Seeing how obedient Bai Zhao looked, Lu Xinrou’s heart softened again. Most of her anger faded away. She tapped Bai Zhao on the forehead and gave him a white-eyed glare…