Chapter 4

In the silent courtyard, Qin Xiao's voice suddenly rang out, immediately drawing the attention of everyone present. Upon seeing that it was Qin Xiao speaking, many of the constables showed a look of surprise.

Han Duwei glanced around, but no one dared to meet his gaze.

He did not say much, and walked straight out of the courtyard. As he passed by Qin Xiao, he did not even look at him, but Qin Xiao understood that since Han Duwei did not object, he was allowing him to follow. He immediately followed, and the constables exchanged glances but soon followed behind, clustering around to the front gate of the Duwei Mansion.

Han Duwei mounted his horse and then turned to look at Qin Xiao, saying coolly, "Follow me!" He flicked the reins, and the horse galloped away.

Qin Xiao immediately ran after him, but ultimately could not keep up with the horse. After chasing down a street, he saw Han Duwei waiting on horseback ahead and quickened his pace to catch up.

"You have quite good stamina," Han Duwei said from atop his horse, looking down at Qin Xiao. "But your mind is rather muddled. Do you know why so many people in the yamen dare not accompany me to the Zhen Marquis's residence?"

Qin Xiao replied, "Because the Zhen Marquis's residence has too much power, and they are afraid of offending it, making it impossible for them to survive in Guicheng."

Han Duwei snorted, "Aren't you afraid?"

"Scared!" Qin Xiao nodded, "I am scared."

"If you are afraid, why do you dare to come with me?" Han Duwei's eyes fixed on Qin Xiao's.

Qin Xiao also looked into Han Duwei's eyes and said earnestly, "Sir, my world is in Guicheng. In this world, you and Captain Meng are the most important people to me. A man will die for those who understand him. If you are in trouble, I can fight for you."

Han Duwei gazed at Qin Xiao and finally said, "Childish talk." He took something from his pocket and handed it to Qin Xiao. In the dim light, Qin Xiao could not see what it was at first, but Han Duwei already said, "Keep this thing well, and don't let anyone see it."

Qin Xiao was a bit puzzled but still took it with both hands. Only then did he realize it was a jade pendant.

The jade pendant had a unique design, with a tiger's head carved on the front, its fangs like knives, and a fierce appearance. He turned it over, and on the back was carved the word "Life."

"Whatever happens tonight at the Zhen Marquis's residence, do not speak or act rashly," Han Duwei said, staring into Qin Xiao's eyes with unusual seriousness. "If anything happens to me at the Marquis's residence tonight, take this jade pendant to the Jiebei Mansion and find a man named Su Changyu. Hand this jade pendant to him."

"Su Changyu?"

"Don't worry, as long as you ask around in the Jiebei Mansion, you will easily find him," Han Duwei said solemnly. "When you see him, hand him this jade pendant and tell him to prioritize the bigger picture, not to act out of anger, and not to seek revenge for me." He paused and then continued, "You can also tell him that Old Han wants him to find you a job."

Qin Xiao was a bit dazed, not knowing who this Su Changyu was.

But he understood that Han Duwei had already made the worst-case scenario for tonight's visit to the Zhen Marquis's residence.

"Sir, nothing will happen tonight," Qin Xiao said hurriedly. "And I have never met this Su... Su Changyu. If I take the jade pendant to him, will he suspect that I am a fraud?"

Han Duwei shook his head, "No, when he sees the jade pendant, he will know you are my man." He said no more, reached out to pull Qin Xiao onto the horse, flicked the reins, and headed straight for the Zhen Marquis's residence.

Qin Xiao put the jade pendant in his pocket, thinking that although the Zhen Marquis's residence was domineering, Han Duwei was an official of the Duwei Mansion, and thus a representative of the imperial court. The Zhen Marquis's residence might not dare to take action against him.

However, who was this Su Changyu? Qin Xiao was very curious.

The Zhen Marquis's residence was located in the center of Guicheng. A tributary of the Changling Mountains flowed through Guicheng and also through the Zhen Marquis's residence, making part of this river a stream within the estate. The Zhen family chose this location for their residence precisely because of this.

The existence of the Zhen Marquis's residence in Guicheng was like the imperial city in the capital. In fact, the old Marquis in the residence was indeed the local king of the Zhen region.

The Zhen Marquis's residence was surrounded by a wide street, which belonged exclusively to the Zhen Marquis's residence. The people of the city dared not pass through the streets around the Zhen Marquis's residence. It was already dark, and the wide road in front of the Marquis's residence was deserted, with no one in sight.

Han Duwei rode directly to the front of the Zhen Marquis's residence. Qin Xiao saw that the two large stone pillars in front of the main gate were hung with lanterns, illuminating the thick, gray-brown gate. On either side of the gate, there were two stone lions with bared teeth, and two men in dark blue shirts with knives stood guard.

Han Duwei reined in his horse in front of the Marquis's residence. The four knife-wielding men immediately placed their hands on their swords, and one of them said in a deep voice, "What audacity, to dare to intrude on the Marquis's residence!"

In the eyes of the Marquis's guards, entering the main road in front of the Marquis's residence was equivalent to challenging the Marquis's residence.

Han Duwei and Qin Xiao dismounted and took a few steps forward. Seemingly remembering something, Han Duwei threw the horsewhip to Qin Xiao, who caught it, and then stepped forward, bowing and saying, "Han Yunong of the Duwei Mansion, seeking an audience with the old Marquis. Please inform him!"

The men in dark blue shirts looked at each other, and one of them went to knock on the door. The door creaked open, and a head appeared. The man in the dark blue shirt whispered a few words, and the head withdrew, and the small door closed. The man in the dark blue shirt then turned around and said, "Wait here!" His tone was cold.

It did not take long for the small door to open again, and a man in black clothing came out. Qin Xiao recognized this person, his eyebrows tightening as his gaze fell on the man's right hand. The black-clothed man's right hand was wearing a black glove, which glowed darkly in the lantern light, indicating that it was not an ordinary glove.

The Marquis's residence was like a deep sea, and Qin Xiao did not know many people there, but he recognized this person, who was privately called the Soul Collector by the people of Guicheng, also known as Ghost Hand Three.

"Follow me," Ghost Hand Three said coldly, without further ado, and turned to return to the residence.

Han Yunong whispered to Qin Xiao, "Do not speak." They ascended the stone steps, and Qin Xiao followed closely behind, entering the residence with Ghost Hand Three.

The two entered the residence, following Ghost Hand Three through the courtyards and halls. The intricate carvings and ancient elegance of the residence made it seem like a maze. The courtyards within courtyards and halls behind halls gave Qin Xiao, who was used to the earthen buildings of the city, a whole new perspective. He felt that the world inside these high walls was completely different from the outside.

They passed through an arched gate and followed a stone path to a courtyard. The courtyard gate was open, and Qin Xiao saw a plaque hanging above it, inscribed with the words "Linghe轩" (Linghe轩). On either side of the courtyard gate, there were two knife-wielding men guarding. Following Ghost Hand Three into the courtyard, they heard a voice exclaim, "S... Sir!"

Han Yunong and Qin Xiao looked in the direction of the voice and saw that in the spacious courtyard, there were about seven or eight men in dark blue shirts, some of whom had drawn their knives. In the center, a man was bound, and Qin Xiao immediately recognized him as the constable captain, Meng Zimo.

The knife-wielding men, seeing Han Yunong appear, seemed to fear that he would try to rescue the bound man. Two of them immediately stepped forward to grab Meng Zimo's bound arms, trying to force him to kneel. Meng Zimo growled and struggled free, turning to glare at them, which made the two men step back.

Seeing Meng Zimo bound, Qin Xiao was somewhat surprised, and Han Yunong's eyebrows tightened, but he remained unusually calm and did not speak, walking straight ahead into the house.

The room was spacious and elegant. As soon as Qin Xiao entered, a strange fragrance greeted him. He had never smelled this scent before, and with his unusually sensitive sense of smell, he immediately memorized it.

Qin Xiao closed his eyes and sniffed lightly, then quickly followed Han Yunong a few steps forward.

On a table in the room, there was a full spread of fruit. Qin Xiao, without looking at anything else, knew that these fruits were very expensive and could not be bought in the shops of Guicheng.

On a chair by the table, a young man in purple clothing, about twenty-four or twenty-five years old, sat with his head tilted back, lifting his arm and pinching a grape with two fingers, putting it into his mouth, and then turning to spit the grape skin into a plate beside him.

"Second Young Master!" Han Yunong stepped forward and bowed.

The young man lifted his head and said coldly, "What are you doing here?"

Qin Xiao recognized this person as the second son of the Changxin Marquis, Zhen Yujian. Unlike the reclusive Changxin Marquis, this young master was well-known in Guicheng.

Zhen Yujian was known for his flamboyant personality. In the eyes of the Zhen family, Guicheng was their territory, and the people living there were their subjects. Therefore, Zhen Yujian would often ride a high horse, accompanied by a group of guards, through the long streets, enjoying the reverent gazes of the people on both sides.

Few had seen the Changxin Marquis, but few in Guicheng did not know Zhen Yujian.

Two steps away from Zhen Yujian stood a middle-aged man in a blue robe, tall and slender, with a tuft of black beard under his chin. He had one hand behind his back and was looking at Han Yunong with a faint smile.

Han Yunong said, "I heard that Captain Meng kicked a dog to death last night and came to apologize this noon, but he has not returned yet. As his superior, I came to ask what the situation is."

"You don't need to say more," Zhen Yujian sneered. "Even if you come, you can't protect him. I am going to kill him today."

Han Yunong frowned and said, "Although Captain Meng was rash, kicking a dog to death does not warrant a death sentence, right?"

"Who told you it was because of a dog?" Zhen Yujian jumped off the chair and stared into Han Yunong's eyes. "He stole an imperial treasure, a bold and outrageous act, and he must die."

"Imperial treasure?" Han Yunong's expression changed slightly.

The man in the blue robe then walked over to Han Yunong, smiling insincerely. "When Captain Meng came to apologize, the young master thought he was sincere and invited him to wait in this Linghe轩. The young master had some matters to attend to and did not see him immediately, letting him drink tea alone. Later, when the young master came to comfort him and intended to let him go, he suddenly discovered that the imperial Buddha statue in the Linghe轩 had disappeared."

"Imperial Buddha statue?" Han Yunong frowned. "Mr. Lang, are you saying that Captain Meng stole the imperial Buddha statue?"

The man in the blue robe, Mr. Lang, nodded. "Yes. The imperial Buddha statue was a gift from the emperor and was placed in this Linghe轩. When Captain Meng entered, the statue was there, but when he was about to leave, it had disappeared." He pointed to a corner where an antique rosewood shelf stood. "You can see for yourself; the statue was originally placed in that box."