Chapter 017: Encountering Ruffians in Women's Attire
The Imperial Palace, in the Zhongshu Sheng.
This was the core of the Great Wei regime, with incense smoke swirling, melodious music playing, and the sixteen grand columns of the main hall exuding an imposing presence. The Regent's regular office was located at the heart of the Zhongshu Sheng, in front of the comprehensive map of the Great Wei.
"An Gong Gong."
An Ruyi's eyes lifted, his gaze meeting the burly figure of Tang Tuan.
"The Prince is currently reviewing memorials, and will later convene with some Zhongshu Sheng officials. If you go in now, you'll surely be reprimanded. I'm thinking of you."
The Three Judicial Offices and various other departments all had officials waiting in line to report to the Regent.
An Ruyi was sweating with anxiety. With the Emperor missing, this was a grave matter, and he could only report it directly to the Regent. But at the current pace of the Prince's audiences, he might have to wait until midnight!
An Ruyi frantically waved his sleeves in the hall: "Your Highness! Your Highness! I have something to report!"
The embroidered silver patterns on the eunuch's robe flashed in the afternoon light, like a blinking white lantern from afar.
Tang Tuan quickly covered his mouth: "Good heavens, what are you trying to do..." Before he could finish, a civil official from the Zhongshu Sheng strode forward: "The Regent summons An Gong Gong."
This allowed An Ruyi to cut in line.
Approaching the Zhongshu Sheng's main seat, Su Jingzhi's gaze remained lowered, still handling court affairs.
He had to represent the Emperor in reviewing and approving around 30 jin worth of memorials each day, writing swiftly with the vermilion brush, crossing out the names of corrupt officials recently reported by the Censorate - the Regent's iron-fisted approach, killing without mercy, leaving not one in ten in the entire ledger.
An Ruyi got straight to the point: "Your Highness, His Majesty has gone missing."
"..."
A crimson ink drop plopped onto the paper.
In the Zichen Palace.
Everyone held their breath, the air seemingly frozen, all kneeling.
A minor eunuch stammered out how the Diligent Princess Wanyi had come, and how the Emperor had gone missing during martial arts training, daring only to look at the tips of the Regent's boots and hems.
Su Jingzhi asked, "And where is the Princess now?"
"Reporting to Your Highness, the Princess, not finding His Majesty, assumed His Majesty was avoiding practice, and since she had other engagements, she has left."
Su Jingzhi pondered this. He took a silent deep breath, a puzzled emotion surfacing:
—He wasn't rebelling, so why did he run away?
When they had left the Tianlu Pavilion, he had planned to carefully observe this little one, to see if he had the qualities to shoulder the realm. At that time, this little one had still been obedient, so how could he suddenly turn around and commit such a preposterous act?
The Regent couldn't understand it, his thoughts tracing back, and he pressed on, "Before His Majesty's disappearance, did he leave behind any words?"
"Yes," An Gong Gong stepped forward to report, "His Majesty asked this servant for medicinal ointment last night, and also applied concealer to his mouth."
"..."
Ripples spread across the still waters of the heart.
Su Jingzhi's mind was thrown into disarray, his thoughts instantly returning to the scab on Wei Wanlan's lips, bitten by himself - the ruddy lips, touched with a dark red tinge of blood. An unsettling feeling arose in Su Jingzhi.
An Ruyi spoke softly, "This servant dares not speculate, but His Majesty was unusually taciturn about that injury. Perhaps he was displeased with being hurt, and that's why he went out."
...He felt he was bullied by me? Upset? Hurt his pride?
Su Jingzhi had an inexplicable feeling of guilt. Now, several ideas flashed through his mind, but his expression grew colder, sneering in reproach:
"The Son of Heaven acts willfully and recklessly. He absconds from the palace just because he's displeased? What of the dynasty and the people?"
With those words, the atmosphere in the Zichen Palace became oppressive. Everyone feared the Regent's wrath would have them all executed: "We, the lowly ones, deserve death!"
Long'an City had many unknown dark corners. That little one, clumsy and wandering the city, would surely suffer greatly.
Su Jingzhi pressed his lips into a thin line: "This Prince will covertly investigate the Emperor's whereabouts, issue orders to the Ministry of War, strictly enforce order in the imperial capital, patrol day and night, leaving no corner unchecked."
"This servant will go relay the orders." An Ruyi finally found his mainstay.
***
"Hey, hey, hey, make way, make way, make way, all of you clear out! There's a strict edict in the city, those without business are not to linger on the streets. Shoppers, pay up quickly, vendors, pack up and leave fast, go back where you came from!"
"What kind of attire is this, baring your arms and embroidered, you clearly look like no good person, cover up quickly!"
"Whose child is sitting by the road?"
"Chase that donkey out of the middle of the street!!!"
Inside Long'an City.
In contrast to the somber, tranquil Imperial Palace, the scene here was bustling and lively. But to Wei Wanlan's eyes, this lively bustle was rather chaotic.
The patrolling guard tugged at the stubborn donkey's head, the soldiers pulling the donkey, the donkey twisting its head, its gaze expressing a firm resolve, its four hooves firmly planted on the ground, braying loudly.
"Ae-ow ae-ow ae-ow—" The donkey grumbled.
The guard was also grumbling: "Get two more people to chase this mule! The rest of you, maintain order in Long'an!"
It felt like they were the ones messing up the city's order.
Standing amid the donkey-chasing scene, Wei Wanlan had just escaped the entourage of Princess Wanyi's maids. He glimpsed the guard's gaze sweeping over him, thinking his internal monologue had been overheard, and hastily turned to leave.
But as he turned back, the two ceramic bowls on his chest brushed against a slender, scrawny young man in blue robes, causing him to stumble back a few steps. Wei Wanlan quickly apologized, lifting his skirts in a bow, but his wrist was then grasped by the man.
"Little miss, you have such a lovely fragrance, do you know Jade-faced Xun?"
Wei Wanlan was startled, looking down at his captured wrist. He tilted his head, genuinely answering, "It's the perfume ointment. I don't know you."
Then the hands began caressing his wrist, bringing it to the man's nose to sniff: "Such an interesting little miss, Xun quite fancies you."
The wrist was growing increasingly painful.
Even with Wei Wanlan's slow reactions, he now knew this person was greatly disrespectful.
But was this man really shameless enough to openly molest him in broad daylight, in front of so many people?
【It's normal, proper young ladies need an escort when going out. Since you're wandering the streets alone, the ruffians will take advantage. No one will intervene.】
Wei Wanlan understood it only partially, but his ear tips instantly burned, disliking being touched, his eyes welling up with moist haze: "Don't... don't grip me. Let go."
His tone was soft and delicate, his words tinged with a hint of pleading, completely lacking any force of deterrence.
It only excited the libertine further.
Jade-faced Xun drew close to Wei Wanlan, whispering, "Don't be shy, you look so fresh, must be new to these parts. Come with Daddy, Long'an's pleasures and delights, Daddy will make sure you have a great time."
Then Xun lowered his voice even more, oilily pressing against Wei Wanlan: "After Daddy's done making you happy, you give Daddy a little happiness too, hmm?"
"Ha, hahaha."
Wei Wanlan's face flushed bright red, his legs prickling as if with thorns as he tried to flee, but the ruffian yanked him back forcefully, the ceramic bowls on his chest slamming against the other, nearly knocking the breath out of him, waves of nausea washing over him.
System...
【Can't help you, it's your own fault for cross-dressing. Once he undresses you, he'll lose interest.】
What kind of advice is that!!!
Wei Wanlan gave a forceful shake, refusing to submit and angering Jade-faced Xun: "Stop pretending to be shy, this daddy's the big shot of the East City Gang, even if you're the Regent's future concubine, I'll still take you!"
"East City Gang..."
"It's the East City Gang! Quick, run!"
As Jade-faced Xun name-dropped his gang, most of the civilians on the street fled in fear, no one daring to watch the spectacle anymore, all hurrying home.
Wei Wanlan suddenly felt even more helpless.
The system: 【This is the East City Gang subplot, a notorious evil force in Long'an that has long evaded eradication. The original novel mentioned it later on, but you've triggered it prematurely.】
Wei Wanlan had no mood to listen to the background explanation.
Pampered since childhood, with little experience, and thin-skinned, being molested in public had frightened him, and he savagely bit down on Jade-faced Xun's arm.
"Ow!"
Seizing that moment of the ruffian's pain, Wei Wanlan turned and ran. The pleated skirt billowed out, making him look like a fluffy-tailed large squirrel.
Xun pursued angrily behind him: "You think you can run? Get her!"
A few small-time ruffians emerged from the crowd, chasing after Wei Wanlan while shouting: "The brothel girl has escaped the whorehouse!!!"
【How vicious! Even being beaten to death for escaping one's registered brothel wouldn't be undeserved, their rhetoric clearly shows these are habitual wrongdoers, you must keep running.】
A whole gang of local thugs were now chasing him. Wei Wanlan couldn't shake them off, panting heavily, feeling like his lungs would burst.
"Huff... Huff... Huff—"
His legs refused to move, feeling as heavy as lead. Wei Wanlan's throat was dry: "I... can't run anymore. Can I... not run..."
【No, you'll be sold into a brothel.】
【Unless you prove you're a respectable young lady, but how can you prove it? Say you're the Great Wei Emperor? With the regime lost, you'd be better off dead!】
Wei Wanlan: ...
It was clear 404 valued the emperor's dignity above all else.
But Wei Wanlan just wanted to stay alive. Suddenly remembering Jade-faced Xun's words, he took a deep breath and headed towards the watchtower in the city.
The watchtower was responsible for monitoring all of Long'an, and the soldier on top, seeing a woman in yellow approaching, tensed, aiming his arrow straight at Wei Wanlan, warning him to stay back.
But Wei Wanlan did not back off.
He cried out through his tears, drawing closer to the Great Wei soldier: "Civilian woman... Civilian woman reports the East City Gang daring to disrespect the Regent! This Jade-faced Xun insulted the Regent, and said he would molest the Regent's future concubine, which I overheard..."
The cold arrow instantly shifted direction.
The gaze held an icy intent, and a single arrow shaft, fired from above, angled down, piercing through Wei Wanlan and landing at Jade-faced Xun's feet, the arrow shaft impaling his foot bone, blood flooding the long street. It precisely blocked the East City Gang ruffian's path.
The soldier's face was cold as frost.
Jade-faced Xun was scared witless, clutching his foot and grimacing: "Official, spare me, spare me, this lowly one spoke rashly, this lowly one's reverence for the Prince is as bright as the sun and moon!"
The other East City Gang ruffians, who normally ran rampant in the streets, did not dare to clash with regular troops, immediately scattering.
The storm had passed, and Wei Wanlan was saved. He crouched on the ground, catching his breath, his lungs burning.
【You did well, using venom against venom.】
The system's praise was like an afterthought. Wei Wanlan hadn't realized, he had actually just wanted to scare them with the mention of the Regent.
Now that he had escaped danger, a huge weight lifted off his heart. He patted his clothes, about to leave, but then heard the clink of armor beneath, the distinct sound of Great Wei's standard Mingguang armor, a sound he had heard on Su Jingzhi before.
Could it be Su Jingzhi? Had he found him so quickly?
Wei Wanlan's ear tips trembled - oh no, had he just been caught by the villain right after leaving the palace...?
"Miss, wait."
It was not the Regent's voice. Wei Wanlan slowly turned, relieved.
The man in his field of vision was also tall, with a scarred face: "Military... official, do you have business with me?"
"I am the Censorate Adjunct Counselor of the Ministry of War, Qin Zhen. The East City Gang has plagued Long'an for years, and even the Jingzhou Governor's office is at a loss. Miss, you were just harmed by the East City Gang - would you be willing to rid the common people of this scourge, and go denounce the corrupt officials of the Jingzhou Governor's office who collude with the ruffians?"
"Eh?"
Wei Wanlan blinked, with a hint of innocent confusion, Qin Zhen's words too long for him to fully grasp.
An awkward silence stretched between them.
The system finally couldn't stand it anymore: 【Ask if you're willing to complete the East City Gang subplot and report them?】
This was a good deed for the people, after all!
Wei Wanlan was simple-minded, unhesitatingly nodding: "I'm willing. Willing, willing."
The system: 【...】
"Then, Miss, please follow me."
Qin Zhen clasped his fist, approaching Wei Wanlan.
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