Chapter 46: Embroidered Uniform Guard

Fang Wei let out a soft sound, truly having no recollection of it. Madam Fang’s gentle voice emanated from his chest: "For those two years, goodness knows what got into you, you were always picking on me. Your little playmates followed your lead, and once, taking advantage of your absence, they pushed me into a dirt pit. I was terrified out of my wits back then, but as luck would have it, you rushed back from outside, chased those boys down, and started thrashing them. You had that exact same look on your face tonight."

Only then did Fang Wei recall the incident: "Because you had grown pretty."

"Huh?"

"The scrawny little girl of before had shot up, blossoming into a beautiful young woman. I wanted to catch your eye," Fang Wei answered honestly.

A wave of sweetness washed over Madam Fang's heart. Fang Wei stroked her glossy hair: "You are only allowed to be bullied by me. Those brats back then couldn't do it, and neither could the heavens. No one will ever take you away from me."

Deep in the quiet of the night, the secondary hall of the Shuntian Prefecture Yamen remained brightly lit. Tang Haiqiu’s hands were tightly bound in finger-squeezing torture devices. Guyu and Wu Haichao pulled the hemp ropes taut. Tang Haiqiu clenched his teeth hard, but agonizing groans still slipped past his lips. Dong Xinfu and Cheng Jie looked at him expressionlessly: "Tang Haiqiu, is what you said just now true or false?"

Silence was Tang Haiqiu's only reply. Cheng Jie finally broke down: "This matter is of monumental importance. True or false, I must report it to Prefect Wan." With that, he prepared to leave, but suddenly a commotion arose outside the door. Cheng Jie paused, exchanged a glance with Dong Xinfu, and looked out toward the courtyard.

A bailiff stumbled frantically into view, pointing behind him: "My lords, there... there are Embroidered Uniform Guards!"

Before his voice faded, a dozen tall, powerfully built men rushed in, every single one of them clad in embroidered spring-water-fish robes and carrying steel sabers at their waists. Such an imposing aura terrified Cheng Jie, whose legs shook so violently he leaned closer to Dong Xinfu: "Wh... what is going on?"

In the blink of an eye, the Embroidered Uniform Guards drew near. The man at their head was a young fellow, exceptionally tall with thick eyebrows, wide eyes, and an extraordinarily rugged appearance. He glanced briefly at Tang Haiqiu, then cupped his fists toward Cheng Jie and Dong Xinfu: "I am Zhou Qingbai, a Centurion of the Embroidered Uniform Guards. The Northern Bureau has a score to settle with him. This man is coming with me." He waved his hand behind him, and two hefty men swarmed forward. Guyu took a swift step to block Tang Haiqiu’s path. One of the men raised a hand and delivered a fierce slap across the face, sending Guyu stumbling back a step as Wu Haichao hurriedly reached out to steady him.

Though his head spun and his ears rang, Guyu stepped right back around, facing the two Embroidered Uniform Guards without a trace of fear.

The young man named Zhou Qingbai turned around: "You are Cheng Jie?"

Cheng Jie was startled. Yet, the Embroidered Uniform Guards kept watch over the entire realm, their informants pervasive from the imperial court down to the fields. As the chief official in charge of criminal law within the Shuntian Prefecture Yamen, he was naturally within their purview. He quickly bowed: "Centurion Zhou, this humble official is indeed Cheng Jie."

Zhou Qingbai looked coldly at Cheng Jie: "The crimes Tang Haiqiu committed involve the inner palace. If you try to obstruct us again, we will take you along with him!"

Cheng Jie shivered in terror, quickly scurrying to Guyu’s side and waving his hands to drive him away: "You meddlesome brat, always sticking your nose where it doesn't belong! The Embroidered Uniform Guards are the Emperor’s personal guard; hunting down suspects is not our place to interfere. Step aside, step aside!"

Stubbornly refusing to budge, Guyu kept his eyes fixed on Dong Xinfu. Dong Xinfu let out a silent sigh: "Guyu, clear the way."

Guyu looked at Dong Xinfu in astonishment. The latter stared straight back at him, his meaning unmistakably clear. With no other choice, Guyu stepped aside, and two Embroidered Uniform Guards seized Tang Haiqiu by the arms, one on each side. Looking at Tang Haiqiu, his face was already drained of all color. He knew all too well the terrifying reputation of the Embroidered Uniform Guards; any man of iron who entered the Northern Bureau would only ever leave carried out horizontally. Suddenly, he began to struggle violently: "I won't go, I won't go! You are just trying to silence me!"

Possessing formidable martial arts skills, he unleashed all his strength in resistance. For a moment, the two Embroidered Uniform Guards were unable to subdue him, plunging the scene into noisy chaos. Noticing that everyone's attention had been drawn to the commotion in the courtyard, Guyu slipped quietly toward the folding screen and dashed into the back hall.

Frowning deeply, Zhou Qingbai stepped forward and pressed a finger sharply into the small of Tang Haiqiu’s back. With no apparent exertion on his part, Tang Haiqiu convulsed as if struck by lightning and collapsed limply to the floor, motionless. The two Embroidered Uniform Guards hoisted him up and began to walk away. Zhou Qingbai cast his gaze around the room: "Where is the other suspect, the one named Li福 (Li Fu)?"

Earlier, to prevent Tang Haiqiu from being influenced by Li Fu and to stop the two from getting their stories straight, Li Fu had been dragged to the back hall and left under the watch of a single bailiff. Hearing the commotion out front, the bailiff was just about to step out to see what was happening when a figure suddenly flashed before him. Frightened out of his wits, the bailiff peered closely in the lamplight to see that it was Guyu. Rubbing his chest, the bailiff said, half-laughing and half-crying, "You brat, you don't make a single sound when you walk! What on earth is happening out front?"

With no time to answer him, Guyu caught sight of Li Fu slumped in a heap. He rushed forward, grabbed Li Fu by the collar, and hauled him to his feet: "What on earth do you people know?" The bailiff behind them looked on in utter bewilderment, not daring to step forward given Guyu's ferocious expression.

Hanging his head low, Li Fu refused to meet Guyu's gaze. Guyu pressed: "The Embroidered Uniform Guards have already taken Tang Haiqiu away. Chances are you won't be able to escape either. If you have any hidden grievances, you had better speak now; otherwise, you likely won't get another chance in this lifetime."

Li Fu jerked his head up—the Embroidered Uniform Guards?! Panic began to flood his expression. Guyu glared at him intently: "Out with it, and I might still be able to save you."

Li Fu shook his head like a rattle-drum. Suddenly, Guyu shouted: "Speak!"

Li Fu shuddered: "I... I don't know. I don't know anything! During the day, some men abducted me and my daughter, using my little girl's life as leverage to force Tang Haiqiu to keep his mouth shut. As for whatever secret he holds, I am completely in the dark!"

Guyu’s mind raced at lightning speed. Could Tang Haiqiu truly be harboring some unspeakable secret? And yet, why had the Embroidered Uniform Guards suddenly appeared? Everything was shrouded in a heavy fog, leaving Guyu utterly baffled. Meanwhile, Li Fu threw his arms around Guyu's legs: "I beg you, save my sweet girl! She is still so young, and her life or death is unknown in the hands of those villains right now."

Looking at Li Fu’s wretched face, a complex storm of emotions surged within Guyu. Just as he hesitated, Li Fu, terrified that Guyu would refuse, blurted out: "Tang Haiqiu was originally going to tell the truth, but I used Ji'an's life to threaten him, which is why he didn't dare reveal the facts. As long as you find her, Tang Haiqiu will definitely talk!"

A sudden wave of shame washed over Guyu, making his face burn hot. Seeking to change the subject, he asked, "Why would threatening your own daughter make Tang Haiqiu obey so submissively?"

With a desolate expression, Li Fu answered, "Because the biological father of that daughter of mine, Ji'an, is none other than Tang Haiqiu."

Guyu froze in astonishment. Li Fu had mentioned this earlier in the main hall, but this was hardly the moment to delve into details. He demanded, "Where is your daughter right now?"