Night.
In Anle Ward of the Divine Capital, a six-story building stood bathed in brilliant lamplight, a gilded plaque bearing the words "Red Sleeve House" hanging high above. Music from a zither drifted from the top floor, while voices clamored inside amid songs and dances celebrating peace and prosperity.
Such was the extravagant, pleasure-drenched Capital!
Barely ten days after the Jiaofang Office came crashing down, another sleepless pleasure house had made its name.
A black-robed man wearing a bamboo hat entered the Red Sleeve House, accompanied by a retainer skilled in martial arts.
Several yards behind him, an ordinary-looking, honest-faced man followed.
Only after the black-robed man climbed the stairs into a private room on the Sixth Floor did the honest-faced man melt into the crowd and quietly leave.
Back in an alley, he discarded his disguise mask. It was Jia Huan!
He had followed him for three consecutive days. Every day, after leaving his office at the beginning of the hour of the pig, Minister of Justice Yang Fuqi visited the Red Sleeve House to seek pleasure and listen to music.
Scholar remarked, "Boss, to think the court's chief minister of punishment had tastes like these!"
The Minister of Justice was also known as the chief minister of punishment!
"No matter how high his rank, he's still human." Jia Huan asked:
"Have you finished investigating?"
Scholar lowered his voice:
"Minister Yang's two sons both study at the Imperial College."
Jia Huan nodded:
"Let's return to the office first."
At the Kirin Office's government offices, Jia Huan gathered his trusted men, along with a low-ranking soldier of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
He was none other than the Skin-Painting Master from the Western Regions!
Before leaving the Western Regions, Jia Huan had recruited this Skin-Painting Master, whose mastery of disguise was