Today’s most sensational events unfolded in the glamorous and decadent world of pleasure quarters.
A man claiming to be the Princess’s close confidant emerged from nowhere, joining forces with He Yichen and the Golden Banner Eighteen Guards to hire assassins from Qianjin Pavilion. Their target was none other than Minister Xie—the Imperial Son-in-Law known for his deep affection with the Princess—and her trusted aide Pei Du.
Scholars and wealthy merchants from across the land eagerly poured forth their convoluted theories about court conspiracies and political machinations, hoping to gain fame for their wit and secure patronage from influential figures.
But soon, another version spread: He Yichen had actually accompanied another shadow operative working for the Princess to the Pei residence for a meeting with Imperial Son-in-Law Minister Xie and Chief Pei of the Mystic Eagle Guards.
Unexpectedly, Uncle Zhai obtained intelligence and dispatched Golden Wu Guards to arrest the family members of the Princess’s confidant at Xingsheng Tavern, intending to coerce the confidant into assassinating Chief Pei.
Uncle Zhai also colluded with Thousand Gold Workshop, leading Golden Wu Guards to raid the Pei residence in an attempt to frame Pei Du for betrayal and sever Minister Xie’s right-hand man.
Fortunately, the Golden Banner Eighteen Guards arrived just in time to rescue this previously unseen confidant of the Princess and former Pacification Army Commander He Yichen of Xiaoshi Bureau.
However, the Princess’s confidant sustained severe injuries and was taken to the Princess Manor. Minister Xie is now searching the entire city for physicians to save him.
Meanwhile, Uncle Zhai dispatched agents to spread malicious rumors defaming Minister Xie.
When this news broke, the entire gambling house erupted like water hitting hot oil, with discussions surging wave after wave.
“Exactly! I think I overheard someone saying earlier… they witnessed Golden Wu Guards making arrests at Xingsheng Tavern before coming here!”
“That’s absolutely true!”
“I knew it! Minister Xie and the Princess are deeply devoted—how could he possibly conspire with Chief Pei to harm her!”
Just when this news seemed shocking enough, another bombshell dropped before the initial wave subsided: rumors spread that Madam Wei of the gambling house was actually affiliated with Qianjin Pavilion.
The revelation that Qianjin Pavilion’s true master was the Liu Family left everyone utterly astounded.
Nobles and celebrities carousing in various flower houses and brothels grew restless upon hearing the news, but with the nightly curfew in effect and all ward gates locked, they couldn’t return to report the information.
In the private booths partitioned by screens and curtains on the second floor, the atmosphere was noticeably calmer than the heated debates among the white-robed scholars carousing downstairs.
Someone ascended from the lower floor and entered a booth, relaying gathered intelligence: “I asked Xiao Huaniang—Madam Wei was indeed secretly taken away by Golden Wu Guards.”
“This affair is bizarre. These successive waves of information have implicated all three major factions at court.”
“Pleasure quarters spread news fastest. Someone is deliberately leaking information.”
“Another Princess’s confidant emerged? Who could it be? Accompanied by He Yichen and rescued by the Golden Banner Eighteen Guards?”
“Send someone to investigate who was arrested by Golden Wu Guards at Xingsheng Tavern today.”
The uproar wasn’t confined to the gambling house in Chongren Ward.
As night fell, enveloping the capital’s daytime extravagance, even in Pingkang Ward—renowned for its countless brothels and dance halls that never sleep—people grew indifferent to music and dance, wholly engrossed in heated debates and speculation.
In one elegant room, several officials who had come for entertainment lost all interest in performances, dismissing the dancers and musicians.
“The party in the adjacent booth already went to the Princess Manor in Pingkang Ward. The question is whether Minister Xie is currently at the Princess Manor in Pingkang Ward or the one in Xingdao Ward!”
“Send more people to investigate who exactly the Golden Wu Guards arrested from the Prosperous Restaurant today, and who this suddenly emerged confidant of the Princess is. We need to have a clear understanding.”
“How long has it been since the court stabilized after the Princess’s death? Why is there infighting again? Whose scheme is this?”
“General Zheng is about to lead the campaign against the Turkic tribes. If the court falls into internal strife at this critical moment, how can the battle proceed?”
“For some reason, it feels like ever since the Princess died, these messy power struggles and sinister schemes have become increasingly common in the court.”
“Why?” Zheng Jiangqing, seated at the head of the table, picked up the wine pot to pour himself a cup and sneered, “Because since the Princess’s death, there has been no one like her who could command the court with 300,000 elite founding troops at her back.”
If the Princess were still alive, Uncle of the Emperor from the Zhai family would still be obediently following her orders—how could he presume to act as the emperor’s maternal uncle and establish his own faction in the court?
That night, court officials from all factions were like ants on a hot pan, using their networks to gather information from all sides.
Though the Princess was dead, her lingering influence remained.
No one had expected that more than three years after her death, she could still stir up turmoil.
No one doubted the authenticity of this suddenly emerged confidant of the Princess. Accompanied by former School Affairs Office Military Pacification Guard Commander He Yichen and rescued by the Golden Banner Eighteen Guards, this person was undoubtedly of great importance.
Meanwhile, the person whom various factions had learned was arrested by the Golden Wu Guards from the Prosperous Restaurant was now in the Golden Wu Guards prison, wide-eyed and bewildered.
“Elder brother! Elder brother, what on earth is going on? Why did the Golden Wu Guards arrest us after asking about our relationship with Cui Siniang?” Master Cui’s eyes were wide as copper bells, his hands spread in agitation and fear as he paced around his elder brother in the cell. “Didn’t Siniang say we were waiting at the inn to meet an important person? How… how did we end up in prison? Elder brother, say something!”
Master Cui’s mind was also buzzing. He too wanted to know how they had ended up in prison.
Just that noon, his daughter Cui Siniang had told him they were about to meet the important person.
Wait…
Master Cui recalled his daughter’s exact words: they were about to meet the important person, but meeting this person would require some sacrifice.
At the time, Master Cui had assumed this meant the important person would demand benefits from the matter.
He had already prepared himself—as long as they could secure the mining rights, aside from the gold, silver, and antiques they had brought to offer, he was even willing to give the important person a ten percent share of the profits.
Could it be that the sacrifice his daughter meant was this?
Then… where was Siniang?
The realization struck Master Cui, and he rushed to the cell door, gripping the bars as he shouted, “Officer! Officer… may I ask, where is my daughter?”
Just then, the Golden Wu Guard who had arrested Master Cui and his brother earlier approached from one end of the prison corridor and stopped before the cell. “Left Commandant is interrogating Cui Jingxian and Cui Jingkang…”
Master Cui turned pale with fright, barely steadying himself against the wall when the Golden Wu Guards entered the cell—one dragging Master Cui out, two hauling his brother away.
“Officer, I want to know where my daughter is. Is my daughter imprisoned here too?” Master Cui asked as he was being pulled along.
When the two were brought before Qiancheng, his subordinate was covering his mouth, whispering the rumors from outside into Qiancheng’s ear.
When Qiancheng heard the rumors spreading outside that the Emperor’s Uncle from the Zhai family had dispatched the Golden Wu Guards to arrest the family members of the Princess’s close associate at Xing Sheng Restaurant, using them as leverage to force the associate to falsely accuse Chief Pei, his hand resting on the desk abruptly clenched.
Arresting Cui Siniang’s father and second uncle had been Qiancheng’s own decision, meant to prevent He Yichen and Cui Siniang from setting a trap for him.
Just moments earlier, Qiancheng had planned to use Cui Siniang’s father and second uncle as leverage to confirm that Cui Siniang had gone to assassinate Pei Du and Xie Huaizhou, hoping to claim credit with the Emperor’s Uncle from the Zhai family.
He never expected such rumors to already be circulating outside.
Even his relationship with Madam Wei, and Madam Wei’s connection to the Qianjin Pavilion, had been exposed.
Such swift action could only be the work of Pei Du.
Chapter
Chapter 20: Pei Du’s Scheme
Today’s most sensational events unfolded in the glamorous and decadent world of pleasure quarters.
A man claiming to be the Princess’s close confidant emerged from nowhere, joining forces with He Yichen and the Golden Banner Eighteen Guards to hire assassins from Qianjin Pavilion. Their target was none other than Minister Xie—the Imperial Son-in-Law known for his deep affection with the Princess—and her trusted aide Pei Du.
Scholars and wealthy merchants from across the land eagerly poured forth their convoluted theories about court conspiracies and political machinations, hoping to gain fame for their wit and secure patronage from influential figures.
But soon, another version spread: He Yichen had actually accompanied another shadow operative working for the Princess to the Pei residence for a meeting with Imperial Son-in-Law Minister Xie and Chief Pei of the Mystic Eagle Guards.
Unexpectedly, Uncle Zhai obtained intelligence and dispatched Golden Wu Guards to arrest the family members of the Princess’s confidant at Xingsheng Tavern, intending to coerce the confidant into assassinating Chief Pei.
Uncle Zhai also colluded with Thousand Gold Workshop, leading Golden Wu Guards to raid the Pei residence in an attempt to frame Pei Du for betrayal and sever Minister Xie’s right-hand man.
Fortunately, the Golden Banner Eighteen Guards arrived just in time to rescue this previously unseen confidant of the Princess and former Pacification Army Commander He Yichen of Xiaoshi Bureau.
However, the Princess’s confidant sustained severe injuries and was taken to the Princess Manor. Minister Xie is now searching the entire city for physicians to save him.
Meanwhile, Uncle Zhai dispatched agents to spread malicious rumors defaming Minister Xie.
When this news broke, the entire gambling house erupted like water hitting hot oil, with discussions surging wave after wave.
“Exactly! I think I overheard someone saying earlier… they witnessed Golden Wu Guards making arrests at Xingsheng Tavern before coming here!”
“That’s absolutely true!”
“I knew it! Minister Xie and the Princess are deeply devoted—how could he possibly conspire with Chief Pei to harm her!”
Just when this news seemed shocking enough, another bombshell dropped before the initial wave subsided: rumors spread that Madam Wei of the gambling house was actually affiliated with Qianjin Pavilion.
The revelation that Qianjin Pavilion’s true master was the Liu Family left everyone utterly astounded.
Nobles and celebrities carousing in various flower houses and brothels grew restless upon hearing the news, but with the nightly curfew in effect and all ward gates locked, they couldn’t return to report the information.
In the private booths partitioned by screens and curtains on the second floor, the atmosphere was noticeably calmer than the heated debates among the white-robed scholars carousing downstairs.
Someone ascended from the lower floor and entered a booth, relaying gathered intelligence: “I asked Xiao Huaniang—Madam Wei was indeed secretly taken away by Golden Wu Guards.”
“This affair is bizarre. These successive waves of information have implicated all three major factions at court.”
“Pleasure quarters spread news fastest. Someone is deliberately leaking information.”
“Another Princess’s confidant emerged? Who could it be? Accompanied by He Yichen and rescued by the Golden Banner Eighteen Guards?”
“Send someone to investigate who was arrested by Golden Wu Guards at Xingsheng Tavern today.”
The uproar wasn’t confined to the gambling house in Chongren Ward.
As night fell, enveloping the capital’s daytime extravagance, even in Pingkang Ward—renowned for its countless brothels and dance halls that never sleep—people grew indifferent to music and dance, wholly engrossed in heated debates and speculation.
In one elegant room, several officials who had come for entertainment lost all interest in performances, dismissing the dancers and musicians.
“The party in the adjacent booth already went to the Princess Manor in Pingkang Ward. The question is whether Minister Xie is currently at the Princess Manor in Pingkang Ward or the one in Xingdao Ward!”
“Send more people to investigate who exactly the Golden Wu Guards arrested from the Prosperous Restaurant today, and who this suddenly emerged confidant of the Princess is. We need to have a clear understanding.”
“How long has it been since the court stabilized after the Princess’s death? Why is there infighting again? Whose scheme is this?”
“General Zheng is about to lead the campaign against the Turkic tribes. If the court falls into internal strife at this critical moment, how can the battle proceed?”
“For some reason, it feels like ever since the Princess died, these messy power struggles and sinister schemes have become increasingly common in the court.”
“Why?” Zheng Jiangqing, seated at the head of the table, picked up the wine pot to pour himself a cup and sneered, “Because since the Princess’s death, there has been no one like her who could command the court with 300,000 elite founding troops at her back.”
If the Princess were still alive, Uncle of the Emperor from the Zhai family would still be obediently following her orders—how could he presume to act as the emperor’s maternal uncle and establish his own faction in the court?
That night, court officials from all factions were like ants on a hot pan, using their networks to gather information from all sides.
Though the Princess was dead, her lingering influence remained.
No one had expected that more than three years after her death, she could still stir up turmoil.
No one doubted the authenticity of this suddenly emerged confidant of the Princess. Accompanied by former School Affairs Office Military Pacification Guard Commander He Yichen and rescued by the Golden Banner Eighteen Guards, this person was undoubtedly of great importance.
Meanwhile, the person whom various factions had learned was arrested by the Golden Wu Guards from the Prosperous Restaurant was now in the Golden Wu Guards prison, wide-eyed and bewildered.
“Elder brother! Elder brother, what on earth is going on? Why did the Golden Wu Guards arrest us after asking about our relationship with Cui Siniang?” Master Cui’s eyes were wide as copper bells, his hands spread in agitation and fear as he paced around his elder brother in the cell. “Didn’t Siniang say we were waiting at the inn to meet an important person? How… how did we end up in prison? Elder brother, say something!”
Master Cui’s mind was also buzzing. He too wanted to know how they had ended up in prison.
Just that noon, his daughter Cui Siniang had told him they were about to meet the important person.
Wait…
Master Cui recalled his daughter’s exact words: they were about to meet the important person, but meeting this person would require some sacrifice.
At the time, Master Cui had assumed this meant the important person would demand benefits from the matter.
He had already prepared himself—as long as they could secure the mining rights, aside from the gold, silver, and antiques they had brought to offer, he was even willing to give the important person a ten percent share of the profits.
Could it be that the sacrifice his daughter meant was this?
Then… where was Siniang?
The realization struck Master Cui, and he rushed to the cell door, gripping the bars as he shouted, “Officer! Officer… may I ask, where is my daughter?”
Just then, the Golden Wu Guard who had arrested Master Cui and his brother earlier approached from one end of the prison corridor and stopped before the cell. “Left Commandant is interrogating Cui Jingxian and Cui Jingkang…”
Master Cui turned pale with fright, barely steadying himself against the wall when the Golden Wu Guards entered the cell—one dragging Master Cui out, two hauling his brother away.
“Officer, I want to know where my daughter is. Is my daughter imprisoned here too?” Master Cui asked as he was being pulled along.
When the two were brought before Qiancheng, his subordinate was covering his mouth, whispering the rumors from outside into Qiancheng’s ear.
When Qiancheng heard the rumors spreading outside that the Emperor’s Uncle from the Zhai family had dispatched the Golden Wu Guards to arrest the family members of the Princess’s close associate at Xing Sheng Restaurant, using them as leverage to force the associate to falsely accuse Chief Pei, his hand resting on the desk abruptly clenched.
Arresting Cui Siniang’s father and second uncle had been Qiancheng’s own decision, meant to prevent He Yichen and Cui Siniang from setting a trap for him.
Just moments earlier, Qiancheng had planned to use Cui Siniang’s father and second uncle as leverage to confirm that Cui Siniang had gone to assassinate Pei Du and Xie Huaizhou, hoping to claim credit with the Emperor’s Uncle from the Zhai family.
He never expected such rumors to already be circulating outside.
Even his relationship with Madam Wei, and Madam Wei’s connection to the Qianjin Pavilion, had been exposed.
Such swift action could only be the work of Pei Du.