When Zhu Zhanjun emerged from the gloomy Imperial Prison of the Northern Command, the sky outside was already growing pale.
He now held a thick confession in his hands.
The assassin, who had been fooled into a stupor, had spent the entire night feverishly writing for the sake of the so-called "Marquis of Loyalty and Valor" and "Merit of Following the Dragon." He had written down every trivial thing he knew about Fang Bin in meticulous detail.
Even Ji Gang, the Jinyiwei Leader, had been astonished by how thorough it was.
Zhu Zhanjun hadn't read the confession. He wasn't all that interested in killing Fang Bin anymore.
What he was more curious about was how Fang Bin had found out that Tingfeng Pavilion was his property.
And how he'd dared to use his own property to set him up.
Was there someone else behind that old fox?
He thought for a moment, then pulled something from inside his robes.
It was a bloodstained piece of cloth, torn from the assassin.
"Commander Ji."
"What are your orders, Your Highness?"
"Find out which shop this fabric came from."
Zhu Zhanjun handed him the cloth.
Ji Gang took it and recognized it at a glance. "Your Highness, this is Cloud Brocade, specially supplied by Su Ji Cloth Shop. They're the only shop in the entire capital that sells it."
"Besides, this fabric is so expensive that ordinary households couldn't afford it."
"Su Ji Cloth Shop?"
Zhu Zhanjun nodded.
"Interesting."
He said nothing more, mounted his horse, and headed toward the Imperial City.
First, he had to report the "results of the interrogation" to Zhu Di. While he was at it, he'd retrieve the deed to Tingfeng Pavilion.
Having someone else use his own property as a weapon against him wasn't exactly pleasant.
An hour later, Zhu Zhanjun left the palace with an old deed tucked inside a sandalwood box.
After hearing his report, especially the assassin's bizarre claims, Zhu Di had been so furious he could only laugh. He'd cursed Fang Bin as a fool who never did anything worthwhile.
As for Zhu Zhanjun's request to go to Tingfeng Pavilion and clean house, Zhu Di had readily waved him through.
Tingfeng Pavilion stood on Zhuque Avenue, the busiest street in the capital.
It was the finest restaurant in the entire capital, and also the most extravagant den of pleasure.
They said a single meal there cost enough silver for an ordinary family to live on for the rest of their lives.
Only the rich and powerful came and went there—either royal nobles and aristocrats, or high-ranking officials of the court.
When Zhu Zhanjun arrived at Tingfeng Pavilion on horseback, dressed in plain clothes, two guards in brocade robes with curved sabers at their waists immediately stopped him at the entrance.
"Stop! This is Tingfeng Pavilion's private property. No entry for outsiders!"
One of the guards looked Zhu Zhanjun up and down. Though he had an imposing air, his clothes didn't look like those of some great dignitary, and a hint of contempt crept into the guard's eyes.
"I'm here to see your boss," Zhu Zhanjun said calmly.
"Our boss?"
The guard gave a scornful laugh.
"You think you can just see our boss whenever you want? Do you have an appointment? A letter of introduction?"
"No."
"Then get lost! Don't stand there and interfere with our business!"
The other guard waved him away impatiently.
Zhu Zhanjun frowned slightly.
His own people actually dared to stop him?
He couldn't be bothered wasting words on these two guards who looked down on everyone. He simply stepped forward and headed inside.
"Hey! Are you looking to die?"
The two guards flew into a rage and reached for Zhu Zhanjun's shoulders.
But before their hands could touch his clothes, their vision blurred and a tremendous force struck them.
Thud! Thud!
The two men flew backward and crashed to the ground, unable to get up for a long while.
The two Great Snow Dragon Rider Guards behind Zhu Zhanjun withdrew their feet and stood expressionlessly at his back.
The commotion immediately drew the attention of people inside the restaurant.
A middle-aged man dressed in fine silks and satins, who looked like a steward, hurried out. When he saw what had happened at the entrance, his expression changed.
"What's going on? Who dares cause trouble at Tingfeng Pavilion?"
The two guards scrambled over to him, their faces crumpled with distress. "Steward Liu! This kid... he forced his way in!"
Only then did Steward Liu notice Zhu Zhanjun. He narrowed his eyes as he sized him up, then sneered. "You've got quite some nerve, young master."
"Do you know what kind of place this is? You dared to throw a punch here. Are you tired of living?"
"I'll say it again. I'm here to see your boss."
Zhu Zhanjun's voice had grown impatient.
"Our boss is busy with a thousand matters. He doesn't have time to meet a nobody like you!"
"If you know what's good for you, get down on your knees and apologize, then pay for the damage you've caused Tingfeng Pavilion. Otherwise, you'll be carried out of here today!"
Steward Liu wore an arrogant expression.
Zhu Zhanjun laughed in disbelief.
He pulled out the deed, now yellowed with age, and waved it in front of Steward Liu.
"Open your damn eyes and take a good look. Who does Tingfeng Pavilion belong to?"
The moment Steward Liu saw the deed, his pupils contracted sharply.
As Tingfeng Pavilion's head steward, how could he fail to recognize the document that represented its ultimate ownership?
His face turned deathly pale, and cold sweat streamed down his forehead.
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