How Deep the Crimson Leaves Run Deep, Chapter 28: A Place of Concealment

The thieves were terrified, trembling like chaff in the wind, begging for mercy incessantly.

Fang Wei asked, "Was the man tall and thin, with regular features and a slightly pointed chin?" This described Tang Haiqiu perfectly, but the man shook his head: "No."

Liu Yongji remarked, "It seems he has accomplices."

Fang Wei was burning with anxiety. He had finally caught a trail of Tang Haiqiu; was he to let him slip through his fingers today? But now that Tang Haiqiu had vanished, where was he to be found?

Just as he was deep in thought, he suddenly heard footsteps outside the ward gate, and the glow of lanterns and torches illuminated half the sky. Fang Wei looked toward the sound and saw Gu Yu leading seven or eight men. Upon seeing Fang Wei, Gu Yu ran forward: "Fifth Brother, Master sent us to help."

Fang Wei smiled bitterly: "Tang Haiqiu has slipped right under our noses. There is no help to be had now."

Wu Haichao, hiding behind Gu Yu, was yawning uncontrollably. Hearing Fang Wei's words, he breathed a sigh of relief: "Can we go home to rest now? This night has been utterly exhausting."

Gu Yu caught a glimpse of Fang Wei’s sweat-soaked, weary face and felt a pang of distress. He offered comfort: "Perhaps he hasn't fled far. Let us search again."

Liu Yongji stepped forward: "We’ve been toyed with by these little bastards for half the night. That man surnamed Tang is long gone. How are you supposed to find him? What kind of empty words are you spouting, you brat?"

Gu Yu’s face stiffened, and he stammered, unsure how to respond. Fang Wei knew the Commander was frustrated and that Gu Yu had become his target. He stepped in to mediate: "Commander Liu, the fault is entirely mine. It was my oversight that led to this situation. How about this—you have also labored all night, so please go back and rest first. I will discuss a strategy with the brothers."

Liu Yongji snorted: "My men have died for nothing, and I have a blood feud with that man Tang. How could I sleep without catching him?" He paused and said, "As the Commander of the Five City Patrol, I have a duty to capture Tang Haiqiu, but it is unlikely we will achieve anything more tonight; dawn is nearly upon us. I will take my men back to rest and consult with Constable Dong on a plan later." With that, he led his men away in a grand procession.

Fang Wei turned back to his constables, suddenly felt a wave of dizziness, and slumped to the ground. The constables behind him, equally exhausted, collapsed and gasped for air. The newly arrived constables took custody of the five men in black, waiting quietly for Fang Wei and the others to recover. Gu Yu pulled Wu Haichao, and the two stood silently by the wall. Across the street, the Jiqing Ward looked serene in the shadows of the night. The gates of the two wards faced each other, and the torchlight held by the constables cast flickering shadows against the gate.

After a moment of lost thought, Wu Haichao saw no one was paying attention and sat down quietly, tugging on Gu Yu’s sleeve: "You should rest too."

Gu Yu was indeed exhausted. Just as he set his torch aside and was about to sit, he caught sight of a few bloodstains on the ground, masked by the dancing light.

"These few drops of blood are what kept us chasing shadows all night." Gu Yu looked back, and Fang Wei was watching him too.

Wu Haichao sighed: "These petty thieves are truly meticulous; they were terrified we wouldn't fall for the trick." He asked the men in black: "Was that your own blood, or an animal’s?"

One of the men in black raised his head: "With all due respect to the officers, we didn't fake the blood. That ward gate is so high; we wouldn't have the skill to climb out."

Gu Yu jumped up with a start, startling Wu Haichao: "What are you doing?"

Gu Yu’s eyes met Fang Wei’s. "Fifth Brother, when you found the bloodstains, was the blood fresh?"

Fang Wei nodded: "It had to be, or it wouldn't have fooled us." He rose slowly from the ground.

Gu Yu said, "If it wasn't the work of these men, then only Tang Haiqiu could have faked the blood. But why would he go to such lengths instead of just fleeing?" His mind raced: "Did he have a backup plan? If something went wrong, this was his life-saving maneuver. But he was so badly wounded and surrounded by the Five City Patrol—wouldn't doing this expose him?"

Fang Wei nodded: "Go on."

Gu Yu said, "Unless his hiding place is nearby."

Fang Wei felt a jolt. Gu Yu’s gaze swept the surroundings: "Mingyu Ward? No, since he lured us here and had these five men put on such a show, he would never let us corner him."

His gaze fell upon the Jiqing Ward opposite. It was the eve of dawn, and under the ink-black night sky, the Jiqing Ward looked blurred and mysterious. Fang Wei followed his gaze to the gate of the Jiqing Ward and lunged forward: "The Shuntian Prefecture office is on official business to apprehend a criminal! Open the gates at once!"

The Chen Family Medical Clinic was brightly lit. Dozens of the Prince's servants who had been drugged were resting. More than ten had suffered physical injuries and were arranged by the authorities to be treated at the clinic. The severely wounded lay on beds, while those with minor injuries huddled in corners. The physician hurried back and forth amidst the continuous groaning, with Gu Lifu and two constables helping out.

Niu Er, his head wrapped in bandages, complained incessantly: "Old Li, our lives are truly bitter. We suffered such a disaster for no reason. Do you think the master will provide some compensation?"

Li Fu’s gaze followed Gu Lifu and the two constables, and he replied listlessly: "We protected the estate well; the master surely sees that."

Niu Er said, "I think so too." He rolled over on the bed, the wooden frame creaking: "A fortune teller told me before the new year that I would face a disaster involving blood this year. I didn't believe it, but I never thought it would come true so damn fast."

Li Fu responded vaguely. Niu Er’s voice gradually faded, and soon he was snoring thunderously. The other injured men drifted off to sleep after having their wounds dressed. The physician washed his hands in a basin and said to the constables: "Everything has been handled properly. Fortunately, none of the wounds are fatal; they will recover in a few days."

The constable nodded: "Thank you for your hard work."

Gu Lifu said, "You two officers have also labored all night. Go back and rest; I will keep watch here."

The constable smiled bitterly: "We are born to toil; we still have to return to the Prince's estate to report."

Gu Lifu sent them off, looked back at his men sprawled across the room, and scratched his head in annoyance. He chose a corner near the door, sat down, stretched out his legs, crossed his arms, and soon drifted off to sleep.

The surroundings were dead silent. Li Fu, who had been dozing against the wall, suddenly opened his eyes. The clinic was pitch black; the air was thick with the scent of blood and medicinal herbs. He slowly climbed up, sat on the bed for a moment, put on his clothes, stepped off the bed, and put on his shoes. Holding his breath, he bypassed the wounded and walked to the door. He listened to Gu Lifu’s snoring for a moment, then gently pushed the door open and slipped out. The moment he closed the door, the snoring abruptly stopped.