Chapter 379: One Finger! (Requesting Monthly Tickets)

Chapter 379: A Single Finger! (Monthly Votes Requested)

A true master never flaunts his skill.

Shui Hetong glanced at Chen Yunfan, knowing that he, just like Chen Yi, had concealed his true cultivation.

"Brother Lin flatters me too much."

Lin Zhong harbored no small amount of curiosity toward "Chen Yu."

According to the information he had gathered in the Shuzhou prefectural capital during this period, the critical shortage of silver in the Dingyuan Marquis Estate had been resolved precisely by the Baicao Hall.

And for the Baicao Hall to become a thriving medicinal establishment in a mere matter of months, it naturally possessed extraordinary capabilities.

First and foremost were the herbal teas.

Lin Zhong had tasted both the Divine Ox Drink and the Ganoderma Berry Tea; although they held little efficacy for someone of his standing, they did indeed possess some effect.

For ordinary commoners, they were nothing short of miraculous.

From this point alone, he had grown exceedingly curious about Proprietor "Chen Yu" of the Baicao Hall.

Yet, despite having been in Shuzhou for so long, his numerous visits to the Yunqing Tower had never afforded him a glimpse of the hall's owner.

Instead, he had crossed paths with Wang Ji and used the name of the Yunqing Tower to strike up a few conversations with him.

Naturally, nothing had been gleaned.

But did that not make it all the more intriguing?

The more mysterious a person or thing, the deeper the untold secrets hidden behind them usually ran.

Mulling over these thoughts, Lin Zhong seated himself at Chen Yunfan's side and said with a smile, "Proprietor Chen is too modest; I am not the only one to say so."

"Who in the prefectural capital today does not know that the Baicao Hall is a cornucopia of wealth, capable of earning vast sums of silver from its herbal teas alone?"

He added with deep meaning, "Many eyes are burning with envy."

Chen Yunfan turned his head to look at him. "Old Lin, there is no need to speak of such things, lest you cause Proprietor Chen unnecessary worry."

Lin Zhong smiled and nodded. "Yes, Young Master."

However, his words were destined to fall on deaf ears.

Though Shui Hetong knew the Baicao Hall’s business was thriving and had decided to mediate cooperation between the Wind and Rain Building and the hall, it did not mean he possessed a profound understanding of its workings.

Such as its reputation, or the opinions of outsiders.

The only thing he knew for certain was that Chen Yi was the owner of the Baicao Hall and the husband of Xiao Jinghong.

Knowing this was already enough.

Chen Yi, conversely, caught the underlying current of meaning.

He looked at Lin Zhong, his peripheral vision sweeping past a somewhat bewildered Chen Yunfan, and came to a silent realization.

He surmised that Lin Zhong must have developed certain designs on the Baicao Hall.

Whether it was covetousness or a desire to share in the profits, both were entirely possible.

Then again, the Chen Family of Jiangnan Prefecture...

Chen Yi held a rather low opinion of them.

For one, the Chen Family was a great and powerful clan with deeply entangled roots; it was difficult to say whether someone might harbor ill intentions toward the Baicao Hall.

In the face of fame and fortune, he never minded assuming the worst of people.

Furthermore, the Chen Family had deliberately thrown him and Chen Yunfan here just to insert themselves into Shuzhou and the Xiao Family, using methods that could hardly be called honorable.

By comparison, the Wind and Rain Building—as his wife's maternal side—was far more suitable.

With the tie of Xiao Jinghong present, these chivalrous figures of the martial world who valued honor and righteousness would likely not resort to underhanded tactics.

Of course, if they did harbor sinister intentions, Chen Yi would not mind settling matters according to the laws of the martial world.

Ultimately, they were far easier to handle than great clans and court officials.

"Is Uncle Zhong planning to help the Chen Family carve out a new business venture?"

Hearing this, Shui Hetong was struck by a realization. "Is that Brother Lin’s intention?"

Seeing his thoughts laid bare by Chen Yi, Lin Zhong cast a slightly surprised glance at him, yet he had no wish to admit it.

Just as he was about to find an excuse to smooth it over, it happened that Xiaodie and Chunying arrived carrying tea.

Once they had set down the cups and withdrawn to the side, Lin Zhong immediately laughed and said, "Young Master Yi must be joking."

"I am merely a guard; I cannot interfere in matters of business."

"The Eldest Young Master, however, certainly can."

Seeing him toss the hot potato into his lap, Chen Yunfan grunted with a trace of displeasure:

"A waste of mind and energy. This master is too lazy to bother."

Lin Zhong smiled. "If the Young Master is unwilling, I, as a subordinate, shall think no more of it."

He cupped his fists toward Chen Yi. "I hope Young Master Yi will not misunderstand."

Chen Yi smiled without a word, gesturing for them to drink tea.

"I heard the newly appointed Right Minister of the Provincial Administration Commission has arrived?"

Chen Yunfan took a sip of tea and said with a tone of slight disdain, "He has arrived, but the man is somewhat unreasonable."

"Oh?"

"Yesterday, before the welcoming banquet could even conclude, he ordered me and Li Huaigu to take men out through the night to investigate the matter of Ma Shuhan."

"He certainly put on grand airs."

Chen Yi raised an eyebrow slightly. "The Old Master and Lord Yang were both present at the time?"

Chen Yunfan set down his teacup and gave a grunt of assent. "They were all there."

"I originally did not want to agree, but Li Huaigu had already accepted the charge, and with that old shameless Yang Ye opening his mouth, I had no choice but to leave the banquet halfway through."

So that was how it was.

No wonder Chen Yunfan had been wandering outside with the men of the Judicial Commission last night.

Chen Yi continued his questioning, "The Deputy Commissioner of the Surveillance Commission should also be arriving at his post soon, correct?"

Chen Yunfan paused slightly, turning his head to scrutinize him for a moment before nodding thoughtfully:

"It should be soon."

"Though Jizhou is further away than the Imperial Capital, the Emperor’s decree cannot be defied, so that gentleman dare not delay."

"Is Brother Yi very concerned about the Three Provincial Commissions of Shuzhou?"

Chen Yi shook his head, naturally refusing to admit to it, and merely said, "Previously, the high officials of the Three Commissions harbored too many schemes and committed grave errors. I only hope those who come next will be more law-abiding."

Chen Yunfan naturally did not believe a word of this, yet he chose not to pierce the veil.

"It would be best if..."

A moment of idle chatter.

Chen Yi glanced at the sky, exchanged a knowing glance with Shu Heng, and proposed, “Shall we take a little rest in the study?”

Chen Yunfan immediately rose, a smile spreading across his face. “Last time you hung that copy of the *Shuidiao Ge Tiao* in your study, it looked quite fine.”

“But your erudition is too profound; it overshadows the other paintings and calligraphy. I must select a few more pieces today.”

“Fair enough…”

Lin Zhongzheng was about to follow them when he noticed Shu Heng sitting motionless at the stone table, hesitating.

“Mr. Chen, wouldn’t you like to come take a look?”

Shu Heng shook his head. “I, Chen, don’t care much for paintings. A little rest here will do.”

Lin Zhongzheng, untroubled by this, turned and followed Chen Yi and Chen Yunfan.

More attentive to the latter two than to “Chen Yu,” he walked with purpose.

Once all were inside the wooden pavilion, Shu Heng poured tea, listening intently to the sounds around.

“Those two have real nerve, don’t they?”

Shu Heng muttered this to himself, then glanced toward the pavilion, a faint smile playing on his lips.

This fellow’s audacity is even greater.

On the other side,

Liu Ruo and Zhang Daobao moved stealthily, their paths leading toward the Xia family prison.

To conceal their identities, they had incapacitated two prison guards with a brew of wind-clearing wine earlier.

After swapping their clothes and with Zhang Daobao undergoing a quick transformation, they strode confidently into the prison.

Liu Ruo greeted the guards at the entrance with familiar nods.

“The capital’s been quite lively today, lots of honored guests have arrived.”

“Indeed, though we’re duty-bound to stay within the inner prison, we can’t join the festivities.”

“Yes, quite a pity.”

Liu Ruo deliberately lowered his voice, feigning a cough. “The Younger Brother previously instructed us to be thorough in our duties.”

“Especially to keep a close eye on the person the Young Mistress sent.”

“Need I be reminded?”

“A few days back, the criminal investigation bureau came looking for Li San Yuan, and the Patriarch sent them away. We can’t afford to be careless.”

“Yes, indeed…”

Zhang Daobao, wiping a nervous smile from his face, kept his senses alert, observing the surroundings.

After confirming the prison was nearly empty, he coughed once, signaling Liu Ruo to proceed.

Liu Ruo paused, his voice shifting. “Not yet. I’m not entirely confident. Let’s first check on Li San Yuan in the inner prison.”

The two guards hesitated, then nodded. “Very well, go take a look.”

Liu Ruo chuckled, patting Zhang Daobao’s shoulder. “Come along then.”

After taking two steps, someone called from behind.

Zhang Daobao’s palm instantly slicked with sweat. Liu Ruo, braver, turned to face them, his expression puzzled.

“Where are you heading?”

“The inner prison.”

The guard pointed elsewhere. “Over there.”

Liu Ruo slapped his forehead, smiling. “Ah, I was just going to have some tea first.”

Zhang Daobao clutched his mouth, coughing. “I-I also need a sip.”

The guard glanced at them, not doubting further, and waved them on.

Relieved, Liu Ruo and Zhang Daobao drank some water in the prison, then proceeded toward the inner chambers.

The inner prison was small, just over a dozen rooms.

Simple in design, clean and unadorned, neither ominous nor damp.

There were some interrogation tools, though their rusted surfaces suggested they hadn’t been used in ages.

“A family-run prison—hardly any real force applied.”

Liu Ruo muttered this, pacing slowly, searching for Li San Yuan.

At last, he stopped before a cell’s outer door, where a disheveled middle-aged man slumped in the corner, his long hair tangled, asleep.

Zhang Daobao studied him briefly, nodding. “It’s him.”

Liu Ruo hummed, glancing around, then signaled for action.

Zhang Daobao stepped forward, producing a fishhook-like iron pin, stabbing it into the lock.

In just three breaths, the lock yielded. “There.”

Liu Ruo inhaled deeply, flung the door open, and before Li San Yuan could react, pressed a cloth soaked in clear wind intoxication over his mouth.

“Huuu…”

Li San Yuan blinked wildly, confusion flickering in his eyes, then slumped into unconsciousness.

Liu Ruo gestured to Zhang Daobao, stripping the man’s clothes.

Zhang Daobao quickly donned Li San Yuan’s attire, then helped dress the unconscious man in prison garb.

Their coordination was seamless, movements swift, save for a few quiet rustles.

From the outer chamber, the guard called out, “What’s the matter with that villain?”

Liu Ruo, voice hoarse, replied, “Nothing—he’s just pretending to be dead.”

“Glad to hear it…”

Once Zhang Daobao finished his disguise, Liu Ruo whispered, “I’ll leave first. You stay hidden.”

Zhang Daobao nodded, reclining in the corner as Li San Yuan had done.

Truth be told, he felt uneasy.

That night, Chen Yi had only told him to impersonate Li San Yuan, but not what came next—when to escape, or what else awaited.

Yet, Zhang Daobao held Chen Yi in the highest regard. Despite his nerves, he settled quietly into place.

Liu Ruo, observing this, locked the door behind the disguised Li San Yuan once more, then shouted hoarsely, “Brother, what’s wrong with you?”

“Huh?”

“My God, get help—he’s collapsed!”

“What happened? Who—who fell down?”

Several prison guards hurried over to assess the situation, and upon discovering that the fainted figure was one of their own, they gestured for Liu Lang to take the man to the physician.

Liu Lang felt a sudden surge of purpose.

He hastily lifted Li Yuan, sprinting toward the prison's outer gate, declaring, "Brothers, keep an eye on the inner cell—I'll be right back."

"Hurry, hurry..."

One of the prison guards, though a bit taken aback, saw that Li Yuan sat comfortably in his cell, so he and the others remained at the entrance.

But soon after Liu Lang departed, they spotted a figure seated in a wheelchair outside the inner prison.

"Second Master."

"Patriarch."

"Second Elder..."

Not someone else, but the resplendent "Xiao Yuanqiu" in his silk robes.

He slightly bowed his head, his voice low and measured: "Many have come to the prefecture today; I thought I'd take a look."

"Any irregularities?"

"Respected Second Master, the inner prison remains as orderly as ever."

"Indeed. You stay outside—I'll go in and inspect."

"Of course..."

Xiao Yuanqiu nodded once, then pushed his wheelchair through the gate, heading straight for Li Yuan's cell.

The wheels creaked softly as he approached the far cell.

He looked into the room, where Zhang Daobao seemed to have just awakened, and asked, "Li Yuan?"

Zhang Daobao, his hair disheveled, glanced at Xiao Yuanqiu through his tangled locks and mimicked Li Yuan's voice:

"Got something to say? Then say it, and if you've got guts, show it."

"Oh? Facing death, yet still unrepentant."

As Xiao Yuanqiu spoke, he suddenly stood, leaning his hand on the lock. With a click, the door swung open.

Zhang Daobao blinked, then widened his eyes at the sight of the man before him.

A single touch to unlock the door?

Such skill in lock-picking was not commonly seen.

As the saying goes, "Specialization is the hallmark of mastery." The thieves' arts of lock-picking, disguise, and infiltration were numerous, and mastering them required years of dedication.

It seemed simple, yet true expertise could not be achieved in a day.

Like Zhang Daobao himself.

He had just used three breaths to open the lock—swift, though not effortless. Within his circle, he was already considered a master among masters.

But this man, with a mere casual touch, unlocked it with such ease.

It was likely no more than a breath away from his own master's "One Finger" technique.

Zhang Daobao's spirit trembled, and he found himself recalling Chen Yi's intentions.

Had the master known someone would act against Li Yuan?

As he pondered this, Xiao Yuanqiu had already entered the cell, moving with quiet confidence, a hint of pride in his steps.

"Don't move, don't move—just do what I say and let me get you out."

Zhang Daobao instinctively pulled back, his eyes narrowing with suspicion. "Who are you?"

"I'm the one who'll get you out of here. If you want to live, keep quiet!"

Xiao Yuanqiu didn't bother with further words. With a flick of his wrist, his blade sliced across Zhang Daobao's neck.

"You..."

In that moment of unconsciousness, Zhang Daobao saw a mark on Xiao Yuanqiu's temple—a sign, a brand.

The signature of his master's art of disguise.

Only his master, "One Finger," and he himself could discern it.

Could it be... his master?

But Xiao Yuanqiu cared nothing for his thoughts. He subdued the man and settled back into his wheelchair, then slowly, deliberately, wheeled his way out of the prison.

At the gate, the guards saw him. "Second Master, you..."

Xiao Yuanqiu glanced at them. "My father wishes to see him. I'll return shortly."

"Uh... anything else?"

"What's the matter?"

"Second Master, perhaps you'd prefer we escort you?"

"No need."

Without waiting for a reply, Xiao Yuanqiu departed on his own.

The guards exchanged glances, then fell silent.

"Rather smooth..."

Meanwhile, in the Spring Lotus Garden, the water there heard the commotion and rose toward the surface, then stepped outside.

As he walked, he called out to Chen Yi in the wooden tower: "I must return to the Bai Caotang for a matter I've been meaning to address. I'll come back soon."

"Alright, Mr. Chen—good day."

(Chapter Complete)