"Heh..." Cen Futong laughed aloud and patted his arm. "Brother Chun, you're wicked. Wicked with real finesse. You're leaving tomorrow, right?"
Shi Chun said, "We should set out tomorrow morning. Make your move once we're out of the city. We'll exchange the money for the woman on the road. Neither side plays any tricks, or neither of us will be able to swallow that money. If anything happens to me, someone here in Skyward City will expose the truth. When that woman kicks up a fuss and Bian Weikang comes to settle accounts, it'll have nothing to do with me."
"A cautious man." Rather than being annoyed by the threat, Cen Futong seemed to admire him all the more. He patted his arm again. "Let's keep in touch and make a fortune together."
He greatly admired Shi Chun's ability. He felt he had no shortage of connections, only a shortage of people like this, whose talents he could draw on more often in the future.
After they discussed the details further, Cen Futong was already treating Shi Chun with the warmth of a close brother. Learning that Shi Chun had only just been released from prison made him find the man even more remarkable.
However deep their bond, business had to come first. With everything settled, he immediately took his leave. They would be making their move tomorrow, and he needed to prepare early.
As he saw him to the door, Shi Chun reminded him again, "Brother Cen, remember: you arranged for me to redeem her from Liyun Tower. Otherwise, your uncle might grow suspicious. If he refuses to pay, we'll be in trouble. Those two friends of yours look born to betray people. They're unreliable. Whatever you do, don't let them know about this."
He took the opportunity to poison Cen Futong's mind against them a little. Who had told those two to laugh so loudly at his name earlier?
Shen Youkun had indeed been right. This was a man who would bite back whenever he suffered a slight.
As the scholars put it, a man who failed to avenge a grudge was no gentleman.
"I know. You don't need to tell me. Don't come out to see me off. Be careful that adulterous pair doesn't spot you." As Cen Futong spoke, he took the folding fan from his waist and opened it, shielding his face on either side as he left, as though terrified Xiang Lan'er and the others might notice him.
Shi Chun did not forget to send him off with a little flattery. "You're a careful man, Brother Cen. A man destined for great things, indeed."
Once he was gone, Shi Chun returned inside to drink tea and leaf through his book. The important business was settled, and he felt thoroughly at ease.
Wu Jinliang leaned over with a chuckle. "Now we're set. With that bastard taking responsibility in front of his uncle, Lü Taizhen won't hold a grudge against you either. All we have to do is wait for the money."
"I thought we'd have to take a few more twists and turns. Running into someone like him certainly saved us a lot of trouble." Shi Chun held his book in one hand and sipped tea with the other. After setting down his cup, he tapped the tabletop with his fingertips. "Think about what we should eat. Tonight, we can really let our bellies loose."
He had not been under much pressure over this affair to begin with. If it worked, he would make a fortune. If it did not, he would simply find an honest way to collect the loan Bian Weikang had promised to repay twofold. He refused to believe he could have the son of Mount Wukang's sect leader in his grasp and still fail to get any money out of him. If that really happened, all his years as Chief of the Eastern Nine Plains would have been for nothing.
"Exactly!" Wu Jinliang clapped his hands in delight.
Just as they were speaking, Old Dong and Big Stone came in. They told them Cen Futong and his companions had already gone down the mountain, then asked how the discussion had gone.
"With the Chief on the job, of course it's settled!" Wu Jinliang laughed, then spread his arms and draped them around the two men. "Hurry up and decide what we're eating. You promised to treat us, so don't try to fob us off."
He had already emptied his own pockets and could only sponge off them as much as possible.
"Ah, don't worry."
"We guarantee it'll all be things you never even saw in there."
And so Shi Chun tossed aside his book, and the four reunited men of the Eastern Nine Plains happily headed out to eat, drink, and enjoy themselves in the city. They were going even though it was not yet mealtime. They simply could not wait...
Skyward City took its name from the lake that reflected the sky. In that lake stood an island, and on the island stood a vast estate whose magnificent towers and halls displayed landscaping artistry to its utmost. It was called Lü Garden, and it was Lü Taizhen's residence.
Outside one of the pavilions, the chief steward, Cao Puqing, whose temples were frosted white, gave a few instructions to the servants and dismissed them. Another man hurried over and reported quietly, "Chief Steward, the two fellows who lent the money to redeem the woman went to Wangbo Tower. They also went upstairs-not to the floors where goods are bought and sold, but by the stairway reserved for staff."
Cao Puqing said in surprise, "It seems there really is something to them."
The man continued, "We still haven't established who those two are or where they came from, but we did learn something about the two Wangbo Tower men accompanying them. One is called Old Dong, and the other is called Big Stone."
Cao Puqing said, "Rather strange names."
The man replied, "Yes. They're from the Land of Exile. Judging by the circumstances, as well as their complexions and clothing, the two fellows who lent the redemption money are very likely from the Land of Exile too, and probably haven't been out long."
Cao Puqing frowned slightly. "How could people fresh out of the Land of Exile produce such a large sum to help someone else redeem a brothel woman? Keep investigating. Come back to me once you've established their background."
"Yes. Also..."
"Stop hemming and hawing. What is it? Speak!"
"Chief Steward, those two also took lodgings at the Carefree Inn. Just now, however, your nephew Cen Futong went to meet them privately. He even sent his companions away. We don't know what he discussed with them in secret."
Cao Puqing fell silent. A moment later, he said decisively, "Bring him here at once!"
"Yes." The man accepted the order and hurried away.
As luck would have it, Cen Futong was already on his way there. They met him en route, called him over, and brought him straight in.
Uncle and nephew met in an empty upper chamber. Cao Puqing made a point of dismissing everyone else.
With no outsiders present, Cen Futong straightened his bowed back. He had been taught since childhood how to conduct himself before his uncle and knew where to draw the line. After all, Lü Garden was not his uncle's own home.
Cao Puqing demanded in a low voice, "You went to see the two men who redeemed Liyun Tower's star courtesan?"
Cen Futong was immediately startled. "Uncle, you had people watching me?"
Cao Puqing raised his eyelids. "You think too highly of yourself. So you admit it?"
Cen Futong nodded. "I did just meet with them."
Cao Puqing asked, "What did you meet them for?"
Cen Futong replied, "The redemption, of course. I arranged it."
He had been meaning to speak to his uncle about this anyway. He could not produce such a large sum himself.
"..." For an instant, Cao Puqing felt numb. The news was so unexpected that it seemed to fall beyond his understanding. Only after a long while did he shake his head slightly and come to his senses. Uncertainly, he asked, "You arranged for those two men to redeem Xiang Lan'er?"
Cen Futong nodded. "I arranged it."
Having received confirmation, Cao Puqing remained dumbfounded for another moment before asking, "Are you itching for a beating? Didn't you know she was the woman the Manor Lord wanted to redeem?"
He still could not quite accept it. He had been sending people to investigate the two men who had redeemed her, wanting to know who had been so bold. He had never imagined the root of it lay in his own family.
Cen Futong said, "It was precisely because the Manor Lord wanted to redeem her that I couldn't swallow this insult. That bitch was even willing to dig out the savings at the bottom of her chest just to run off with some pretty boy. If word got out, never mind the Manor Lord-even I, who rely on you, Uncle, would feel my face had lost its luster.
"Wasn't that pretty boy still fifty thousand gold short of redeeming her? Fine, then. I borrowed some money and arranged for people to lend him a hand. Along the way, I got hold of that bitch's indenture. Uncle, she can't get away. Wherever she runs, she still belongs to the Manor Lord."
Cao Puqing's face darkened, and he bared his back teeth. "Has water gotten into your brain? Is this something you should be meddling in? Don't you know who Bian Weikang is? He's ready to live or die for that woman..."
"Oh, Uncle, it's not as troublesome as you think..."
Cutting his uncle off, Cen Futong poured out the entire method Shi Chun had given him for hoodwinking Bian Weikang and Xiang Lan'er, leaving Cao Puqing stunned.
After working through the whole scheme, Cao Puqing looked at him with mingled suspicion and surprise. "Did you really come up with this?"
Cen Futong spread his hands as though it were only natural. "What's so special about that? I may not have your ability to accomplish great things, Uncle, but when it comes to dealing with women, you might not be my match."
This, Cao Puqing believed. His nephew certainly excelled at such disreputable nonsense, idling about and chasing women, and had caused him no end of trouble. Precisely because of that, an expression of bitter anguish surfaced on his face. Pointing at his nephew, he said through gritted teeth, "I've always said you aren't a fool by nature. Your mother simply spoiled you rotten. Starting today, I'm going to properly temper that character of yours. This affair ends here. You're not to meddle any further."
He knew perfectly well what lay behind the Manor Lord's offer of five hundred thousand gold to redeem her.
The Manor Lord liked the star courtesan, but she sold her artistry, not her body. He had offered to pay for her freedom, yet the madam, Feng Chi, had refused. For some reason, she had suddenly agreed today, and their side had agreed as well. Then this business with Bian Weikang had suddenly cropped up.
Fondness was one thing, but there was no need to get covered in filth over a brothel woman. Thus, the matter no longer particularly concerned him.
They were investigating who had helped redeem her purely to understand why it had happened-to learn who had been so bold and whether they were deliberately looking for trouble. Since their side was involved, they could hardly turn a deaf ear and a blind eye. That was all.
"That won't do. I borrowed the fifty thousand gold used to redeem her. I'd also borrowed various sums before that and never dared tell you. Adding in the expenses incurred in handling things, it comes to four hundred and fifty thousand. The Manor Lord was originally going to pay five hundred thousand to buy her. By turning her over once, I not only solved my own troubles, I also saved him fifty thousand.
"The problem is, I pledged her indenture to the creditor as collateral. If I don't repay him, he'll definitely resell the woman the Manor Lord likes. When Bian Weikang makes a scene, the creditor is bound to expose me."
After so many years under his uncle's feet, Cen Futong had an exceptionally accurate feel for the man's pulse. He knew better than Shi Chun where to make the cut and could dispense with even the detours.
What was all this tangled nonsense? Cao Puqing's head swelled just listening. He would settle that account later. For now, he had another suspicion and pressed him. "Who are those two men you found to put up the redemption money?"
Cen Futong said frankly, "They've just been released from prison, fresh out of the Land of Exile. One is called Shi Chun, and the other Wu Jinliang. They happen to need money, so they're easy to put to work."
Cao Puqing asked in a low voice, "Is it really that simple? Why did I hear they have dealings with Wangbo Tower?"
Cen Futong said dismissively, "They do. Two of their brothers from the Land of Exile are now clerks at Wangbo Tower. They want to use that connection to get into Wangbo Tower themselves. They've already gone there to discuss it, but it doesn't seem to have gone very smoothly."
Shi Chun had deliberately told him all of this earlier, precisely as a precaution against anyone on Lü Taizhen's side keeping watch on him.
Thus, Cao Puqing was left speechless. It was, after all, quite close to what his subordinates had concluded after their investigation.