Chapter 024
Chapter 24: Many Princes
After carefully examining Cang Yin Yue’s token and asking a few questions, the armored guards at the city gate cast a curious glance at Li Mu Sheng, the handsome criminal wanted by the Six Gates. They meticulously noted down details before allowing them passage into the city.
Emerging from the long, spacious tunnel beneath the city walls, Li Mu Sheng stepped onto Shang Yang City’s streets paved in bluish stone. The mule’s hooves clicked crisply on the smooth pavement. Soon, the bustling noise of the city washed over them like a sudden tide.
Li Mu Sheng and Cang Yin Yue rode side by side, gazing at the endless streams of people and the busy carts weaving through traffic. Shops lined both sides of the road, their colorful banners fluttering brightly in the wind, extending far beyond sight.
“Let’s eat something first,” Cang Yin Yue suggested. “Meanwhile, I’ll inform the Shadow Spy Division about your situation.”
She led Li Mu Sheng into a busy restaurant. After ordering several dishes from the inn attendant, Cang Yin Yue left Li Mu Sheng alone at the table and vanished through a door into the rear courtyard.
Li Mu Sheng didn’t mind this at all. Although the Shadow Spy Division was considered the greatest intelligence agency in Great Li, it never operated openly from government offices. Its countless spies always hid in plain sight, disguised under various identities, never revealing their true roles.
While waiting for the food to arrive, Li Mu Sheng sipped the restaurant’s complimentary tea, carefully listening to the lively chatter around him. Such busy places always buzzed with intriguing rumors and astonishing news, true or otherwise.
…
“Did you hear? Another Seventh Prince appeared at Aurora Pavilion. Tsk, tsk! That makes sixty-one princes found in just this past month!”
“Oh, I remember clearly when they first said someone found the long-lost Seventh Prince. Out of curiosity, I even went to see for myself. Turned out, he wasn’t the prince after all. Ever since then, so many princes appeared, I’ve grown numb.”
“Some people simply dream of instant fame. If you ask me, those pretending to be the prince should all be executed publicly for deceiving the throne.”
“Careful now! What if by accident we behead the real Seventh Prince?”
“In my opinion, forget finding any prince at all. That extraordinary man in prison right now is unmatched in both wisdom and strength—he’s the true dragon of Great Li. The prince who vanished twenty years ago is probably some beggar or a worthless ruffian now. Bringing him back would only disgrace our royal family.”
“Shh! Watch your tongue, or the Heavenly Brocade Guard might throw you into jail and take your head.”
“Why should I be afraid? My maternal uncle used to serve closely with His Seventh Highness. He told me many times the Seventh Prince will surely be our Great Li’s next wise rul—cough! Cough!”
A young man in a luxurious blue robe held his cup and was passionately talking when suddenly someone beside him hastily covered his mouth, causing him to choke violently on his drink. This shock quickly sobered Zhang He, who now realized he had said far too much under the influence of wine. He immediately fell silent.
But just then, the door to their private room was violently kicked open. Three figures strode inside. Leading them was a dark-faced young man, flanked by a pretty woman in a green dress, whose gaze was cold, and a towering muscular giant with a powerful build and whiskers like a tiger.
It was the giant who had kicked down the door. His fierce eyes scanned the five startled men inside, and he roared, “I just heard you openly discussing the prince and His Majesty. Such reckless talk is treason. All of you, come with me to the Magistrate’s Office immediately!”
Zhang He quickly rose, intending to speak, but was stopped by a young man in green robes beside him. That man politely bowed his head and said, “Brother, you must have misheard. We were simply drinking and talking poetry, nothing related to the prince or His Majesty.”
The others, including Zhang He, immediately nodded in agreement. “That’s right! We were only chatting and reciting poems.”
Then, with a sudden burst of courage, Zhang He loudly questioned the intruders, “Who exactly are you people? How dare you barge into our room like this? Are you intentionally causing trouble?”
The giant snorted coldly. “Such clever lies! We clearly heard everything you said from the room opposite.” Without hesitation, he reached out swiftly to grab Zhang He, recognizing his voice as the main culprit.
“Dare to touch me? My maternal uncle is Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. Harm me, and you’ll lose your head!” shouted Zhang He, hastily dodging backward. Although he knew a bit of martial arts, his speed was no match for the giant, whose hand shot forward like a flash.
Just as Zhang He was about to be caught, the green-robed youth suddenly punched, his fist slicing through the air like a blade toward the giant’s face. Forced to evade, the giant abandoned Zhang He and swiftly aimed a claw strike at his new opponent’s chest. Within moments, they exchanged dozens of fierce blows, scattering dishes, food, and furniture into fragments.
Meanwhile, the grim-faced young man and the woman in the green dress merely watched impassively from near the door. Zhang He and the others shrank back against the wall, not daring to intervene.
Then, after another fierce exchange, the giant abruptly kicked sideways, smashing down an entire wooden wall dividing two rooms. With a loud crash, the collapsed barrier revealed another private room next door.
“You claimed to be merely reciting poetry? Let’s ask your neighbor then, what exactly she heard you saying earlier.”
The giant spoke gruffly, pushing his opponent away with a strike and quickly retreating toward the doorway. The green-robed young man hesitated, but ultimately did not pursue, returning quietly to Zhang He’s side.
Sitting calmly in the exposed neighboring room was a young lady. She seemed entirely unbothered by the chaos, continuing to sip tea quietly without sparing even a glance at the fallen wall.
“Young lady,” said the woman in green, stepping forward, “did you happen to hear these young masters utter rebellious statements? Please testify honestly.”
At this, panic flashed in Zhang He’s eyes. He immediately called out loudly, “My maternal uncle is Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue!” Clearly, he hoped to intimidate the young woman into silence.
However, the woman in green calmly showed an official badge, reassuringly adding, “Young lady, you have nothing to fear. We’re from the Six Gates.”