A month passed in the blink of an eye.
Zhou Yi interrogated several more prisoners. His methods of torture grew ever more practiced, and few could last even an hour.
By now,
whether "Zhou Li" was truly Zhou Yi's disciple no longer mattered.
Captain Lu received praise from the court and had taken a liking to this junior. When the silver was handed out at month's end, he gave him an extra twenty taels.
"Before long, Old Zhou's title of Blood Prison Old Demon will be passed on to you!"
"How would this disciple dare overstep his bounds? Even if I used it, I'd only be a little demon."
Zhou Yi said with a smile, "I often heard Master mention Spring Breeze Pavilion. Now that we've been paid, I'd like to ask you to honor me with your presence tonight."
"Easy enough, easy enough!"
Captain Lu nodded in satisfaction. Old men always liked young people who respected their elders.
Zhou Yi invited the other prison guards as well, and his colleagues readily agreed. At first, they had treated him as a young junior and looked after him more for the sake of an old friend. Now, they all treated him as an equal.
Connections got you through the door; skill let you stand firm!
From ancient times to the present, it had always been so.
Evening.
Spring Breeze Pavilion.
Business was as booming as ever. The scent of powder and rouge could be smelled from afar, while the girls, scantily dressed, called out to passing guests.
"Sir, come have some fun!"
Guests streamed in and out, enjoying themselves to the fullest.
Captain Lu led a group of prison guards inside. By chance, the courtesan queen was dancing. Her red gauze was hazy and translucent, half concealing, half revealing, seemingly exposed yet not exposed. Every time she stretched her slender waist, the guests erupted into cheers.
"This year's courtesan queen, Miss Susu, is said to have Shenjing's finest waist!"
Captain Lu praised her, saying, "Bright Moon Pavilion opened in Xiude Ward, and Spring Breeze Pavilion was beginning to decline. But once Miss Susu took the stage, no one could steal her crown!"
Feng Qiao asked in surprise, "Xiude Ward? Isn't that Imperial Academy and Ministry of Rites territory? They can open a brothel there?"
"I heard the owner is some high-ranking lord from the Ministry of Rites!"
Captain Lu said, "Lord Liu and I went once. How should I put it? The girls were beautiful enough, but they couldn't let loose. I heard they were bought from the Bureau of Music."
"What's the point of playing if they can't let loose?"
The colleagues all looked disdainful. The Heaven Prison guards were a bunch of rough men, and it was hard for them to understand the beauty of delicate, sickly charm.
"That's where you're wrong. Scholars really know how to play!"
Zhou Yi clicked his tongue. "The Bureau of Music is full of the families of convicted officials. To men like us, there's no difference between them and Spring Breeze Pavilion. But what those lords see are the wives and daughters of their former colleagues."
"Eugh—"
His colleagues drew out their voices in unison, expressing their contempt and disgust.
"Now that Little Zhou puts it that way, no wonder all the court officials like Bright Moon Pavilion..."
Captain Lu's gaze flickered. Clearly, he was tempted.
As they spoke,
the madam had already sashayed over. Before reaching them, she bowed in apology. "Master Lu, there are too many guests today. We truly can't free up a private room. Please forgive us and make do in the main hall."
"Lead the way."
Captain Lu gave a slight nod, unconcerned whether it was true or not.
Only two people from Heaven Prison could have a private room at Spring Breeze Pavilion whenever they wished: Warden Liu and Old Zhou. No one else had that privilege.
"Are you Yun Niang?" Zhou Yi asked tentatively.
"Oh my, this young master looks somewhat unfamiliar, but what a handsome face!"
The madam covered her mouth halfway with her handkerchief, looking rather pleased with herself. "No one has called me Yun Niang in many years. Where did this young master hear that name?"
Yun Niang.
That name belonged to the madam's most glorious days—perhaps the most glorious days of her entire life. All of Shenjing had once buzzed because of her.
Alluring and enchanting, one pipa tune stirred the capital!
Sixteen years had passed since then, and she had long since faded into obscurity.
"My master once told me that Yun Niang was unmatched in pipa within Shenjing."
Zhou Yi smiled. "Other courtesan queens, whether playing the zither or the flute, merely put on a show for their guests, proving they were no simpletons and raising their value. Only Yun Niang ruined her fingers learning the pipa."
Yun Niang instinctively hid her right hand, her expression dimming. "Your master was Old Zhou?"
Zhou Yi said in surprise, "He was indeed."
"Of Shenjing's million people, all praised me for being alluring. Only Old Zhou praised my pipa."
Yun Niang asked, "I haven't seen him for years. How is he now?"
"Master passed away last year."
There was a trace of regret in Zhou Yi's words. Back then, he and Yun Niang had talked with great delight. She truly had been obsessed with music; she had simply been born into the wrong world. Otherwise, with her looks and skill, she would surely have been a goddess adored by the masses.
The two had become too deeply acquainted. Borrowing the courage of drink, Yun Niang had even entertained thoughts of redeeming herself.
Perhaps Zhou Yi had been wary, perhaps he simply did not trust women of the brothel, but he never sought Yun Niang out again.
"That old fellow had no conscience. It's good that he's dead. I've told some of my sisters before—surely they'd all clap their hands and cheer."
Yun Niang wore a coquettish expression, though her voice sank slightly. "Come upstairs with me. There's still a private room reserved for old patrons, lest your master visit me in a dream tonight and accuse me of not looking after you!"
"..."
Zhou Yi suddenly felt rueful. To say the two had shared deep feelings would truly be no more than fooling children.
After spending over thirty years amid the revelry of Spring Breeze Pavilion, he had encountered several emotional women along the way.
Perhaps women of the dust rarely found anyone to whom they could bare their hearts. Zhou Yi had spent generously, spoken sweetly, and had never looked down on them. That was why they had felt the faintest thread of gratitude and fondness.
Had they truly redeemed themselves and started a family, then gone through firewood, rice, oil, salt, sauce, vinegar, and tea, with Zhou Yi so guarded besides, it was hard to say how well they could have lived.
"Old Zhou is gone, yet Spring Breeze Pavilion still carries your legend!"
Captain Lu muttered to himself. There were two people he admired most in his life.
One was the former Warden, now Vice Minister Liu. His methods and instincts in officialdom had reached the pinnacle. The other was Zhou Yi. Though he had merely been a prison guard delivering meals, he had made a courtesan queen pine for him.
They took their seats in a private room on the second floor.
Zhou Yi consciously took the last seat, serving food and pouring wine for everyone, while also telling a few playful jokes.
Captain Lu silently praised him. Worthy of being the disciple Old Zhou had trained. After what had just happened, an ordinary person would inevitably feel smug, but few could remain unruffled by favor or disgrace.
The Heaven Prison guards were all sharp-minded people; naturally, they understood the subtlety in this.
In an instant, their relationship drew much closer, and the atmosphere became lively.
His colleagues directly explained the key points and essentials of Heaven Prison to Zhou Yi—the open and hidden rules alike. They had completely begun treating him as one of their own.
"Why 'again'?"
Zhou Yi watched the guests below laughing merrily, watched the courtesan queen's graceful dance, and in an instant, ten years of emptiness were filled.
The warmth and bustle of mortal life soothed ordinary hearts best.
When the wine was half-drunk,
Captain Lu slung an arm around Zhou Yi's shoulders. "Little Zhou, I think highly of you! If you run into any trouble in the capital, just say the word. Don't let trivial matters delay your duties."
"Lord Lu, there really is something rather troublesome."
Zhou Yi said, "A few days ago, my master's clansmen came to Shenjing. They demanded that I return the residence so it could be inherited by the younger generation of the Zhou Lineage."
Captain Lu frowned slightly. "Old Zhou had family? Why have I never heard him mention them?"
If this truly was an internal matter among the Zhou Lineage, Captain Lu could not easily interfere. Not only did the Fengyang Kingdom rule the realm through filial piety, but in matters of inheritance, clan law took precedence even over the laws of the state.
That was how devouring a household with no heirs came about!
Feng Qiao said, "I know a little. Old Zhou's father had already divided the family."
"The family was divided!"
Captain Lu immediately found his confidence. "Since the family was divided, clan law can no longer govern it, much less after two generations. If they could take it back even then, they might as well go collect from everyone in the world surnamed Zhou."
The crowd burst into laughter.
"Little Zhou, don't be afraid of trouble. With your skills, if anyone comes knocking again, seize them and drag them to Heaven Prison for questioning."
"Thank you, Lord Lu."
Zhou Yi had asked Captain Lu to intervene in this matter because he had already borne the karmic ties of the original owner of this body. If they still refused to know their place, next year's jujubes and grapes could bear a few more fruits.
Worked overtime today, so the second chapter will be a little late.
Before you continue