How Deep the Scarlet Leaves? Chapter 53: Settling In
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Wu Haichao looked up and saw Dong Xinwu, then hurriedly jogged over to his side. Dong Xinwu asked, “Where’s Gu Yu? Everyone’s here today except him. Does he think he’s too important to show up?”
Wu Haichao grinned wryly. “Master, I’m not his waistband; wherever he goes, I follow.”
Dong Xinwu tilted his head, eyeing Wu Haichao who still looked sulky. He smiled slightly. “Did you have a falling out with him?”
Wu Haichao huffed, “I saw him at the mansion this morning. I wanted to tell him about today’s meeting, but the bastard ignored me and just walked off.”
Dong Xinwu frowned. “He didn’t say anything?”
Wu Haichao shook his head. “Not a word.”
A vague unease crept into Dong Xinwu’s heart. He rarely misjudged people in his life, but this young apprentice was one exception—seemingly honest and simple, yet harboring countless secret thoughts. What troubled him most was that Gu Yu was taciturn but quick to act. Now, with Gu Yu gone without a word, Dong Xinwu felt a prickle of suspicion. He pondered deeply, unsure what Gu Yu might be up to. Looking intently at Wu Haichao, he said, “Do whatever it takes, bring him back no matter what.”
“Ah?” Wu Haichao was dumbfounded.
On the second floor of the Tongfu Inn, Gu Yu peered out the window at the street below. Once he confirmed no one was following, he quietly closed the window. Turning to Ji An, who curled up helplessly in a chair with eyes darting anxiously, Gu Yu brought a basin of clean water over. Ji An’s chubby little hands splashed in the basin twice, wiping her face clumsily. Gu Yu watched silently, and when she looked up, he handed her a towel. Ji An wiped her face haphazardly and returned it.
Gu Yu pulled a stool to sit opposite her. In the dim room, the large and small figures stared at each other silently. Despite the grime on Ji An’s face, her delicate features were visible—she had a gentle, youthful complexion and big, round eyes full of unease and curiosity. Gu Yu hesitated before asking, “Do you know who your father is?”
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Ji An’s voice was soft and childish. “You already know. Why ask me?”
Gu Yu sighed. Li Fu, as an accomplice of Tang Haiqiu, had secretly hidden and adopted his son—his motives baffling. But now was not the time to dwell on that. “I’m going to see your father now. Do you have any proof of your identity?”
Ji An was puzzled, staring at Gu Yu without knowing how to answer. Gu Yu’s spirit sank. He tried again, “Do you have anything on you that your father gave you?”
Ji An thought for a moment, rolled up her sleeve to reveal a slender arm, and took off a bracelet from her wrist, handing it to Gu Yu. He held the bracelet—a red cord woven with a delicate longevity lock at its center—close to his chest and stood. Ji An asked anxiously, “You’re not going to keep it, are you?”
Gu Yu’s expression was resigned. “No, I promise to return it to its rightful owner.” He concealed a dagger in his boot, then took out a steel knife. “Stay here. Don’t open the door for anyone but me, understand?”
Ji An’s face tightened nervously, her small hands clenched as if she might cry at any moment. Gu Yu’s patience waned; he was young and unsure how to communicate with such a little one. Approaching the door, he repeated firmly, “No one else but me can open the door.”
He left Tongfu Inn and walked three long streets to West River Rice Alley, near the Great Ming Gate where all six ministries were situated. The area bustled with endless traffic, except West River Rice Alley itself was desolate because it housed only one government office: the Command Headquarters of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
Apart from a few patrolling soldiers, pedestrians were scarce. The few who passed hurried by as if avoiding poison.
Gu Yu spent half an hour pacing around the tall walls of the Embroidered Uniform Guard Headquarters, finding no way in—not even a hint of where the secret prison might be. Frustrated, he returned to West River Rice Alley and noticed a cluster of shops at the entrance, mostly food stalls with bright signs. One noodle shop had several Embroidered Uniform Guards in their Flying Fish uniforms inside. Intrigued, he entered and chose a low-profile seat.
The guards chatted enthusiastically but stopped and glanced at him when he came in. They quickly finished eating, paid, and left, heading back into the alley.
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Gu Yu ordered a bowl of noodles and pondered as he ate. Suddenly, his arm was grasped tightly, startling him. He looked up to see Wu Haichao. Frowning, he asked, “What are you doing?”
Wu Haichao’s face was dark as iron. “Come with me.” Without waiting for a reply, he dragged Gu Yu up and led him away. After a short walk, they slipped into an alley. Wu Haichao finally released his grip and faced Gu Yu. “Are you trying to get yourself killed?”
Gu Yu smiled bitterly. “I haven’t even properly experienced life yet, how could I dare to speak of death?”
Wu Haichao’s temple veins bulged as he clenched his teeth. “Then why are you provoking those cursed Embroidered Uniform Guards?” Dong Xinwu had ordered him to find Gu Yu. After failing to find him at home and brooding over it, Wu Haichao recalled Gu Yu’s grudge against the guards for forcibly taking Tang Haiqiu and Li Fu. With nowhere else to go, he came to West River Rice Alley on a whim—and actually found him. Thinking of what Gu Yu might attempt next filled him with shock and anger.
Gu Yu looked at the trembling Wu Haichao and sternly met his gaze. “I have doubts. The timing of the guards’ appearance was far too coincidental. Why didn’t they come earlier or later, but precisely when Tang Haiqiu revealed the truth? If they were arresting through official channels, why not state it clearly to the court? Why use such a dubious pretext? Now, an innocent little girl I just rescued from bandits has her father imprisoned in the secret jail for unknown reasons. Is she to lose her father and become an orphan?”
Wu Haichao was speechless, unsure how to respond. He whined, “I don’t care about others, but you—I knew you couldn’t stay out of trouble. Now you’re tangling with the Embroidered Uniform Guards, and you might get yourself killed.” His voice trembled as he grabbed Gu Yu’s arm. “These things aren’t for us common folk to meddle in. Let’s go back, alright?”
Gu Yu felt the genuine worry in his friend’s heart and gripped Wu Haichao’s hand firmly. “I ask for only one thing: to see Tang Haiqiu face to face. If he admits everything, I’ll stop. Otherwise, I won’t give up.”
Wu Haichao yanked his hand away, furious. “Damn it! The Embroidered Uniform Guard headquarters isn’t a place you can just barge into. High officials enter boldly but come out lying flat. What makes you, a mere constable, think you can come and go as you please?”