Hu Xiaotian chuckled. "Talk. Why did you break into my home tonight?"
The burglar said, "Your lordship here was short on cash, so I figured I'd kidnap you and get myself some spending money!"
Hu Xiaotian snorted coldly. The burglar's arrogance had stirred his anger, and he kicked him straight in the face, leaving it blooming with blood. Then he said, "String them up and beat them. Keep beating them until they tell the truth!"
Just then, they suddenly saw flames blazing into the sky to the northeast. Everyone froze, and Liang Dazhuang cried out, "Fire!"
Cries of "Fire!" rose one after another. Hu Xiaotian left four household guards to watch the two burglars and led everyone else over to fight the blaze.
The fire was in the Elegant Gathering Pavilion at the Minister's Residence, which served as Hu Buwei's study. As Hu Xiaotian led the men in fighting the fire, he already had an inkling that they might have fallen for someone's scheme to lure the tiger away from its mountain. Almost everyone in the Minister's Residence had gathered to capture the two burglars. While they were all occupied with that, someone else had taken the opportunity to sneak into the Elegant Gathering Pavilion and set the fire.
Fortunately, the fire was not too large, and the Minister's Residence had plenty of household guards. In less than an hour, they had extinguished the blaze in the Elegant Gathering Pavilion.
Not long after the fire was put out, the Capital Prefecture sent people to investigate. Leading them was Murong Feiyan, the female constable who had already dealt with Hu Xiaotian several times. Gazing at the ruined walls of the Elegant Gathering Pavilion, Murong Feiyan knitted her delicate brows. Public security in the capital had been poor lately, with several thefts occurring in succession, but none of the thieves had actually dared sneak into an official's residence. After all, even thieves understood that commoners did not contend with officials. If they were caught stealing from an official's home, their punishment would likely be harsher.
Just then, a man with a face covered in soot walked toward her. He smiled at her from a distance, revealing a full set of straight, snow-white teeth. Only when she saw that carefree grin did Murong Feiyan recognize him as Hu Xiaotian, the minister's son.
Hu Xiaotian had been busy fighting the fire and had not yet had time to wash the soot from his face. He now looked like an African brother who had just escaped deep waters and scorching flames. Coming up to Murong Feiyan, he cupped his hands and said, "Constable Murong, we meet again!"
Murong Feiyan had no fondness for this fellow whatsoever, but she knew the main purpose of her visit, and she also understood that today Hu Xiaotian was the victim. She asked quietly, "What happened?"
Hu Xiaotian briefly recounted his encounter with the burglars that night. After listening, Murong Feiyan asked, "Was anything stolen?"
That question really stumped Hu Xiaotian. The Minister's Residence was enormous, and there were simply too many things in the house. Never mind that the study had burned and the scene had been badly damaged-even if it had not burned, he still would not have known what was missing.
Murong Feiyan said, "Hand those two burglars over to me. I'll take them to the Capital Prefecture for a thorough interrogation."
Hu Xiaotian had no objection. After all, Murong Feiyan was the professional in this field. He smiled and said, "Constable Murong, if you make any progress, I hope you'll let me know right away."
Murong Feiyan nodded.
After a whole night of commotion, it was already dawn when Murong Feiyan led her constables away with the burglars in custody. Hu Xiaotian had been busy catching thieves and fighting the fire without a moment's rest, so naturally he was somewhat tired. He yawned and was about to return to his room to rest when he saw the steward, Hu An, approaching with an anxious expression. From the look in Hu An's eyes, Hu Xiaotian knew he had something to say. "Let's talk in my room," he said quietly.
Hu An followed Hu Xiaotian into his room and closed the door. Looking frightened, he said, "Young master, tonight's incident may be rather serious."
As Hu Xiaotian saw it, they might have lost some valuables, but so long as no one had been killed or injured, everything else was a minor matter. He smiled calmly. "Money and possessions are things outside the body. As long as everyone is safe and sound, that's all that matters."
Hu An lowered his voice. "Young master, did you know that the master kept the Iron Deed of Redemption in the Elegant Gathering Pavilion?"
Hu Xiaotian's heart jolted. The Iron Deed of Redemption-wasn't that the legendary death-exemption token? He had learned about it before. Supposedly, it was a certificate the emperor awarded to meritorious officials. If an official committed a crime later, he could produce the Iron Deed of Redemption to escape death. Hu Xiaotian had not known that his own Hu Family possessed one. It had only been six months since he regained consciousness, and his father had never mentioned it in front of him. He reflected that the Iron Deed of Redemption was no ordinary object. Even if his family really had one, his father would surely have stored it carefully. How could he casually let a steward know its whereabouts? At that thought, Hu Xiaotian said, "I've never heard anything about an Iron Deed of Redemption."
Hu An rubbed his hands anxiously. "Young master, this Iron Deed of Redemption was bestowed upon your ancestor, the Duke of Jing, by Emperor Mingzong. Although the Hu Family later fell on hard times, the Iron Deed of Redemption was passed down from generation to generation and treasured by the family. Only in the master's generation, when he earned distinction in the imperial examinations and restored the family's standing, did the Hu Family rise to glory again. Through the kindness of the master and mistress, I was entrusted with important duties, so the master never hid his affairs from me. He put the Iron Deed of Redemption away in the Elegant Gathering Pavilion right before my eyes, and he instructed me not to let anyone enter the pavilion. But last night, when the burglars broke in, I was so concerned for your safety that I neglected the Elegant Gathering Pavilion... Young master... I truly deserve ten thousand deaths..." With a thud, Hu An dropped to his knees before Hu Xiaotian.
Hu Xiaotian thought he sounded pitiful, but after hearing him out, he understood what he meant. Fuck, what are you getting at? You neglected the Elegant Gathering Pavilion because you were worried about my safety, so now the loss of the Iron Deed of Redemption is all my fault? Clearly, Hu An knew the blame was too heavy for him to bear, so he had come to win Hu Xiaotian's sympathy. Fine, seek sympathy if you want, but you can't pin this on me! Irritation immediately rose in Hu Xiaotian's heart. Without telling Hu An to get up, he sat down in a chair. After thinking for a while, he asked, "Who else knows about this?"
Kneeling before Hu Xiaotian, Hu An said, "Young master, apart from the master and me, no one knew the Iron Deed of Redemption was hidden in the Elegant Gathering Pavilion. Even the mistress didn't know. I thought you knew, young master."
Hu Xiaotian cursed inwardly. Hu An, you old bastard, you're no good either. You're clearly trying to drag me into the mire. Something this serious has happened, and you don't think you can shoulder it alone, so you're pulling me in to share the blame. Still, despite his resentment, Hu Xiaotian knew he bore some responsibility for what had happened last night. If he had not made such a racket, he would not have roused the entire Minister's Residence. There had only been two burglars, after all. Even without the other household guards joining in, he and the six guards led by Liang Dazhuang would have been strong enough to capture them. But last night, he had been caught up in the excitement of catching thieves and had never considered that they were making noise in the east while striking in the west. Their true target had been the Iron Deed of Redemption.
Hu Xiaotian said, "That Iron Deed of Redemption was bestowed on my ancestor by Emperor Mingzong. So many years have passed since then. The emperor has changed, and who knows how many generations the Hu Family has gone through? It's hard to say whether it still has any effect." He was not wrong. In truth, an Iron Deed of Redemption was much like a medal. Under Great Kang's laws, a prince who broke the law faced the same punishment as a commoner. If even a prince could not escape punishment, how could an ordinary minister? Besides, this was an age when a subject had no choice but to die if his sovereign commanded it. If the emperor truly wanted to kill you, never mind one Iron Deed of Redemption-even a thousand or ten thousand would be useless. Those marked for beheading would still be beheaded, and those marked for the extermination of their households would still have their households exterminated.
Hu An said, "Young master, the Iron Deed of Redemption may not necessarily spare us from death, but losing it is a capital offense punishable by beheading!"
Those words jolted him awake like a dreamer roused from sleep. Cold sweat broke out on Hu Xiaotian's back. That's right! Losing the Iron Deed of Redemption is a serious crime! If the burglars really had stolen it, and the matter unfortunately came to light, it would likely bring great trouble upon the Hu Family. The real problem was that his father had accompanied the emperor to the Eastern Capital, while his mother happened to have gone to her family home in Jinling. He alone had to take charge of matters at the Hu Residence, without even anyone beside him to consult.
The more Hu Xiaotian thought it over, the more the incident looked like a conspiracy. The two burglars had entered his courtyard with the true purpose of drawing everyone's attention. Once everyone was focused on them and gathered to make the arrests, someone else had slipped into the Elegant Gathering Pavilion, stolen the Iron Deed of Redemption, and set a fire to destroy the evidence at the scene.
Hu Xiaotian paced back and forth in the room, pondering as he walked.
Hu An did not dare interrupt him. Since Hu Xiaotian had not told him to rise, he could only remain obediently on his knees.
At last, Hu Xiaotian stopped pacing and asked, "Are you certain the Iron Deed of Redemption was stolen?"
Hu An nodded. "After the fire was put out, I went to inspect the cabinet where the Iron Deed of Redemption was kept. Someone had twisted the lock off, and there was nothing inside."
Hu Xiaotian nodded. Judging by Hu An's account, the Iron Deed of Redemption had indeed been stolen. He said quietly, "Hu An, you and I know about this, but no third person must hear of it. As long as we keep this secret, outsiders naturally won't know the Iron Deed of Redemption is missing. Isn't that right?"
Hu An pressed his lips together. "But..."
Hu Xiaotian said, "No buts. No matter what happens, you must not let even a whisper leak out. Go to the Eastern Capital yourself, find my father, and tell him about this in person. Remember this: apart from my father, you must not reveal it to anyone!"
His expression grave, Hu An nodded repeatedly. "Rest assured, young master. This old servant will keep his mouth sealed tight as a bottle. Not the slightest whisper will escape."
Hu Xiaotian said, "Get up!"
Only then did Hu An dare rise from the floor. He said quietly, "Young master, if those burglars came specifically for the Iron Deed of Redemption, we won't be able to keep this secret." He was plainly terrified to the utmost, and even his voice trembled.
Hu Xiaotian said, "That's why time is so crucial to us. We must inform my father as quickly as possible. As for the burglars, I'll handle them."
Before you continue