#353 - “Walk into a trap”
“ Zhi ~ Zhi ~ ”
The crisp chirping of summer cicadas echoed in the air, the bright sunlight illuminating the alley, also falling on the embroidered shoes covered in mud, and the slightly swaying cyan skirt.
This woman who was refused entry was Song Li.
And the person inside the door should be her beloved before she was sold into Drunken Spring Brothel.
“Liu, Brother Liu, what are you talking about?”
With a “thump,” Song Li collapsed against the wooden door, a trace of a smile still lingering on her face.
However, unlike the heartfelt joy before, this smile now seemed more like an awkward self-consolation.
“Li, Li'er, I really don't dare to open this door, blame Brother Liu for being incompetent.”
The voice coming from inside the door was also somewhat bitter: “Li'er, I don't know how you escaped, but you should think about your parents, and the people around you.”
“How can we afford to provoke that Drunken Spring Brothel? If they find out you're here, then...”
“Alas, you should leave quickly!”
“...”
The breeze was just right, but the man's words were very heartless.
Obviously, this person clearly thought that Song Li had secretly escaped from Drunken Spring Brothel.
In fact, it was not surprising that he would have this judgment.
After all, Song Li had only been in Drunken Spring Brothel for a short time, and it was impossible to save enough money to redeem herself.
But if someone else redeemed her, why would Song Li run here?
Therefore, the most likely situation was “sneak escape”.
And this meant that Drunken Spring Brothel would definitely send people to search for her whereabouts, and would definitely severely punish anyone involved in this matter.
Therefore, the man dared not open the door no matter what.
“...”
The hand扶 holding the wooden door slid down little by little, as if all strength had been drained in an instant.
Song Li slowly knelt on the ground, her eyes somewhat empty.
Of course, she knew what the person on the other side of the door was worried about.
It was precisely because she knew that she was so confused and helpless now.
Why?
That's right, the story that Song Li told Chu Xianping last night about her “falling into prostitution” was actually only half true.
Her father did have the idea of selling her in order to pay off gambling debts.
But at that time, Song Li had already made a marriage agreement with the man inside the door. Although she had not officially entered the family, this matter naturally had to be approved by the “fiancé”.
And looking back from today, the man's choice was already very obvious.
A total of one hundred taels, seventy taels for her father, thirty taels for the man, and the marriage contract was terminated at the same time.
This was originally a choice that made Song Li feel hopeless, but just before she was about to enter Drunken Spring Brothel, the man made an extremely sincere promise to her—
Li'er, I will definitely redeem you when I have saved enough money, you wait for me.
It was precisely because of this sentence that the hope in Song Li's heart did not completely shatter.
But just now, all the flames of hope were extinguished.
“Li'er? Li'er?”
“Even if you don't think about me, you have to think about your parents!”
“Listen to Brother Liu, go back quickly!”
“...”
On the other side of the door, the man was still urging her anxiously.
However, Song Li only felt that his voice was getting smaller and smaller.
Think for you?
Heh, I have already thought too much for you, so much that I can give up my chastity, reputation, and body.
So now, do you want me to give you my life too?
Slowly standing up from the ground, Song Li did not tell the man the truth, but silently wiped off the mud on her shoes and skirt, and then tidied up her slightly disheveled hair.
After doing all this, she slowly turned around, and without looking back, she gradually walked away along the way she came.
From now on, I will only think for myself.
Half an hour later.
Saying goodbye to the muddy alley, saying goodbye to the man who had nothing to do with her anymore, saying goodbye to the past, Song Li had already returned to Drunken Spring Brothel, preparing to try to inquire about Chu Xianping's situation, and then go to find the latter.
As for whether she wanted to “repay her kindness” or had other intentions, it is still unknown.
And just as she walked into Drunken Spring Brothel again, about a dozen miles away from the main gate of the night watchman, a man wearing a fish dragon brocade robe also stepped over the threshold, slowly walking towards a small building in the respectful bows of the surrounding yamen runners.
“Lord Guan.”
“Commander Guan.”
“...”
The man's expression was indifferent, and he did not respond to the greetings of the yamen runners, and everyone seemed to think this was normal.
Because this person was the commander of the night watchman, Guan Jingzhong.
Or rather, he was the Gu Diao transformed into Guan Jingzhong.
Letting Yama transform into the top leader of the night watchman to extract information was a decision Bai Youheng made after several considerations.
Although the “Eye of Yama” can confuse other people's minds, and even control others to be used by oneself, it sounds simple at first glance.
But in fact, this contains huge risks.
Because the Eye of Yama cannot guarantee 100% success in bewitching, and once it fails, then Yama will undoubtedly be exposed.
And since Pei Dajun's affair was exposed, the night watchman has been on guard against this, which undoubtedly adds to the difficulty.
Therefore, it is better to transform into Guan Jingzhong's appearance and directly ask Du Chang for what he wants.
This approach naturally has risks, but it is already the most secure way Bai Youheng can think of.
First of all, as a night watchman himself, Bai Youheng knows Guan Jingzhong very well, and is confident that he will not reveal any flaws in his words and deeds.
Secondly, in this way, he can directly contact Du Chang, and the latter definitely knows all of Wei Chang's “plans”.
Finally, if everything goes smoothly, he only needs a very short time to get the information he wants, although it will definitely be exposed afterwards, but that doesn't matter anymore.
Therefore, as long as he is not suspected in the next almost quarter of an hour, then this plan will be perfect.
“Da.”
“Lord Guan, Young Master Du is inside.”
The yamen runner leading the way stopped and looked back at “Guan Jingzhong”: “The humble one has already reported it, Young Master Du said you can go directly in.”
“Hmm.”
Nodding slightly, “Guan Jingzhong” reached out and pushed open the door.
This action was no different from ordinary people pushing the door, and it couldn't be more normal.
But in fact, his fingers did not really touch the door, and the reason why the door opened was because of the true qi that gushed out from his fingertips.
Such trivial details could only be noticed if someone observed very carefully, so the yamen runners behind him did not suspect anything.
Including Du Chang in the house.
The latter just looked at “Guan Jingzhong” who pushed the door in and asked casually: “Lord Guan, you're back from the palace so soon?”
“Yes, the Emperor had something to deal with temporarily, he just asked a few questions casually.”
Bai Youheng controlled Yama to answer, and then pretended to say casually: “Young Master Du, the Emperor asked me today when I could find Yama's whereabouts, and also asked me whether I was sure.”
“Alas, I don't know what Young Master Wei is planning.”
While speaking, he stepped forward and sat down opposite Du Chang.
Based on all the known information, Bai Youheng was confident that this statement would definitely not be a problem.
But he never expected that everything he knew was actually a trap.
He probably wouldn't have thought that just after he said the first sentence, Du Chang had already quietly heated up a pair of mother-child jade hidden in his sleeve.
And less than ten breaths after Du Chang did this, several figures rushed out of the Princess's mansion and headed straight for the night watchman's yamen at the fastest speed.
