Chapter 71

Outside, it was a world of ice and snow, while inside it was warm like spring. Leaning against the snow-white wall, a row of flower pots was placed, and the lush peonies quietly bloomed, pure and spotless. Under the glow of the charcoal fire, they appeared even more delicate and alluring, leaving no trace of winter.

In the room, a light curtain separated the space. From behind the curtain, a stream of music flowed, like a babbling brook, like a gentle breeze through the pine forest, a sound that seemed to come from a fairyland, filled with sorrow and complaint.

"Wonderful, truly wonderful! Miss Fang, please stop. I, Zhu, dare not listen any longer!"

Behind the curtain, the woman's delicate hand gently moved, and the music abruptly stopped.

"Master Zhu, do you think my music is not good?"

Zhu Jinhai laughed heartily: "Miss Fang, your musical talent is unparalleled, and you are a leading figure in Jiangnan, let alone in the remote borderlands. I dare not listen any longer because I fear I cannot suppress my feelings of pity and affection, and I cannot bear to see you thrown into the fire!"

The woman behind the curtain smiled faintly, her beauty so radiant it could break one's heart!

"Master Zhu, I, Yunqing, come from a humble background, with a shallow life and little fortune. I am merely a plaything in men's hands, and I am well aware of this!"

Zhu Jinhai shook his head in pain: "Miss Fang, you are right, but that person is not a man, he is a eunuch! How can I bear to see a fresh flower planted in a mud pond! How about this, in three days I will head south to Jiangnan, and I will change my name and start anew. Why don't you come with me? We can sail on the West Lake, like Fan Li and Xi Shi, wouldn't that be a beautiful thing!"

As Zhu Jinhai spoke, his heart swayed, and he took a few steps to the curtain, reaching out to lift it.

"Wait!"

Fang Yunqing sternly shouted: "Master Zhu, you know very well why Mr. Jin is giving me to Lord He. If Lord He does not help with the Liaodong affair, your Zhu family might not be able to escape unscathed!"

Zhu Jinhai was stunned for a moment, then suddenly said angrily: "Miss Fang, I just don't understand, what kind of storm can a small battalion commander stir up! Is it necessary for me, Zhu Jinhai, to fake my death and hide my name? Our Zhu family works for the Emperor, if they have the ability to investigate, let them see how it ends when they reach the palace!"

Zhu Jinhai finished speaking, his eyes burning as he stared at Fang Yunqing, swallowing hard.

"Jin Wanguan only cares about silver, he can even abandon someone as beautiful as you, he is a beast! Why don't you come with me, we can..."

"Shut up!" Fang Yunqing's face was full of anger, and she sneered: "Master Zhu, do you know why the Zhu family can't compete with Mr. Jin? It's because of arrogance and not knowing their own worth! I, Fang Yunqing, am a plaything, are you, who work for the palace, not also playthings? With the Liaodong defeat, can the court not investigate the cause, can the palace let it go easily! As they say, when immortals fight, mortals suffer. Mr. Jin saw this clearly, which is why he gave me to Lord He. He is preventing trouble before it happens, you are far inferior to Mr. Jin!"

"You!"

Being despised by a woman, Zhu Jinhai's face turned ashen with anger.

"Fine, very fine. You are about to become a eunuch's wife, yet you still speak for Jin Wanguan. The 200,000 taels of silver were not wasted! Women are all the same, I will go find Xiang Ling!"

Zhu Jinhai turned and walked away, and behind the light curtain, Fang Yunqing's lips twitched, a tear rolled down her cheek, and she quickly turned her body to the side, silently swallowing her bitterness...

Zhu Jinhai, full of anger, had just reached the courtyard when a servant ran up in a panic, colliding with him.

"Blind, drag him away and beat him severely!"

The servant, with a mournful face, quickly waved his hands: "Master Zhu, don't beat me, don't beat me! Outside, the soldiers have come!"

"Soldiers!"

Zhu Jinhai's face turned deathly pale, and he quickly grabbed the servant, demanding: "What do you mean, which soldiers?"

Before Zhu Jinhai could finish his question, numerous agile figures appeared on the walls around the courtyard, leaping into the yard. The main gate was also smashed open, and a handsome young man led over a hundred soldiers rushing in.

There were also many bodyguards in the courtyard, who rushed forward to block them. But the young man at the front held a gleaming samurai sword and shouted: "Any resistance will be met with death!"

"Death to all who resist!"

The soldiers shouted loudly, pouncing on the bodyguards like tigers, easily subduing them.

"Sir, look, that's Zhu Jinhai!" Yang Long shouted excitedly.

Zhang Ke's gaze fell on the terrified Zhu Jinhai, who was dressed in expensive clothes, with a ruddy face, well-maintained. It was he who almost cost his brother his life!

Zhang Ke's anger surged, and he took a few steps to Zhu Jinhai, grabbing his shoulder without hesitation, and kicked him in the knee, causing Zhu Jinhai to kneel on one knee. Yang Long and several others rushed forward, binding Zhu Jinhai tightly, like a large dumpling.

Only then did Zhu Jinhai come to his senses, and he hurriedly shouted: "Who are you, why are you arresting me, let me go!"

Zhang Ke laughed loudly: "Let you go? In your dreams! Take him to the carriage, and bring him back to the city with me!"

"You, who are you, I am a royal merchant, I work for the palace, no one can arrest me without Lord He's approval!"

"Zhu Jinhai, you have been dead for over ten days, does Lord He know about your fake death? That could lead to a bloodbath!" Zhang Ke sneered: "Watch him closely, don't let him escape!"

"Yes, sir!"

Yang Long led Zhu Jinhai away, and at this moment, the soldiers had searched every courtyard, driving out all the people inside.

Among them, the most eye-catching were two young women. One wore a pink blouse, her clothes torn, revealing a section of green undergarment, her face pale with fear, her eyes wide.

"Who are you, what do you want, Master Zhu, save me!"

Compared to this woman's panic, the other woman in white appeared much more composed, though her face showed fear, she concealed it well. She lowered her head, saying nothing.

Zhang Ke's gaze swept over the women, his expression unchanged, and he smiled faintly: "Miss, Jin Wanguan must have invested a lot to give you to Zhu Jinhai!"

Fang Yunqing bit her lower lip, her eyes darting, and suddenly said: "Sir, I am not Zhu Jinhai's, but I am to be given to Lord He, please respect me!"

Lord He?

Zhang Ke's mind raced, and he immediately smiled.

"Jin Wanguan is indeed bold, but his plans may fall through. It doesn't matter if it's Lord He or anyone else, I, Zhang Ke, am not afraid!"

"Bring this lady to the carriage!"

Zhang Ke turned and walked away, leaving Fang Yunqing with his back.

The first courtesan of Jiangnan!

Fang Yunqing had encountered many men, even famous scholars, high-ranking officials, and even eunuchs, who all lusted after her, wishing to possess her.

But Zhang Ke's eyes were filled only with coldness, cold to the point of indifference.

And Zhang Ke's words made her even more nervous, she couldn't help but wonder: Mr. Jin, you said Lord He can handle this, but this person says Lord He can't, who is right?

Fang Yunqing's thoughts were in chaos, but Qiao Fu was full of joy, lost in his fantasies.

"Brother Ke, now that we've caught Zhu Jinhai, the clouds have cleared, Brother Feng can be released, and it's less than ten days until the New Year. Let's hurry back to Daqing Fort and have a happy New Year's Eve!"

Zhang Ke shook his head slightly: "Capturing Zhu Jinhai is just a first step. To win beautifully, we need to do one more thing!"

"What is it?"

Zhang Ke pointed to the sky and smiled: "Pierce the heavens!"

Zhang Ke led Zhu Jinhai, and the convoy raced into the city gate at top speed.

Just as they reached the city gate, a man ran over, it was Wu Boyan, his face pale, scratching his head and ears.

"Sir, you're finally back, something big has happened!" Wu Boyan leaned in and whispered: "Lord He has taken action."

Zhang Ke's brows furrowed, "Don't panic, what exactly happened?"

"Sir, just now, Minister Hong sent a message, saying that He Bian found Xiong Tingbi, claiming that the Liaodong merchants are in a state of panic and cannot complete the imperial mission, demanding that Xiong immediately execute the criminals. Minister Hong said they might not be able to hold on much longer!"

Zhang Ke took a deep breath and smiled: "No need to worry, I have found Zhu Jinhai!"

Wu Boyan's eyes widened, "Sir, really? That's great!"

"Ha ha ha, go tell my teacher and the others to hold on a bit longer. Once I capture another criminal, I will go see Xiong Tingbi and clear my brother's name in public!"

"Alright!" Wu Boyan turned and ran excitedly.

Zhang Ke turned to look at his men and bowed to them.

"Brothers, you are all General He's trusted men. I have a big task to do, a task that could cost our heads. Do you have the courage?"

The soldiers looked at each other, and a middle-aged man stepped forward.

"Master Zhang, General He told us to follow you, just give the order! Besides, Brother Zhang Feng is our comrade-in-arms, we will do anything to save him, even if it means sacrificing our lives!"

"Right, Master Zhang, just give the order, we will follow you to the ends of the earth!"

Righteousness often comes from the lowest ranks. Hearing their words, Zhang Ke's blood boiled.

"Follow me, let's charge!"

Zhang Ke led the soldiers like a whirlwind, heading straight for the supervisor's office in the eastern part of the city.

Eunuchs, a profession that is the most despised, once they enter the palace, they change their names, fearing to disgrace their ancestors. But once they rise to the top, even the highest officials must bow and scrape, not out of respect for the eunuchs, but out of fear of the golden imperial power!

But now, a group of people were charging towards the supervisor's office, daring to attack the Emperor's servants!

Zhang Ke shouted loudly: "Quick, bring out Lord Wu!"

The other soldiers joined in, their loud voices shaking the tiles.

The guards at the gate, seeing these fierce-looking men, were terrified.

"Lord Wu, something bad has happened, someone is causing trouble! They want you to come out!"

A young eunuch in his early twenties, with a frowning face, sneered: "What to fear, I am Lord He's man, the Emperor's man, no one dares to arrest me!"

The young eunuch hurried to the gate, just as Zhang Ke was approaching.

"Are you Little Wu?"

"So what if I am?"

Zhang Ke smiled faintly, then suddenly reached out, grabbed Little Wu by the collar, and threw him onto the horse.

"You are in trouble, come with me to the hall!"

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