Chapter 12

The next morning, news spread throughout the imperial capital that the daughter of the Qinglian Luo family, Luo Li, had gone missing.

Rumor had it that the last sighting of Luo Li was near Pingkang Alley, and many knew that Pingkang Alley was within the sphere of influence of the Crown Prince, Qi Wang Xie Jue.

This sparked a flurry of rumors, with some claiming that Qi Wang had kidnapped the daughter of the Imperial Censor, Luo Li, to force the Qinglian Luo family to support him in the imperial court.

The Jinwu Guard sealed off the entire Pingkang Alley, and all incoming and outgoing people were subject to routine checks, causing business in the brothels to plummet.

Despite the authorities conducting night-time searches, Luo Li’s whereabouts remained unknown. During the morning court session, Qi Wang Xie Jue’s face looked particularly grim.

However, Yun Miao was not concerned with the affairs of the imperial court.

She was more concerned about her good friend, Luo Li.

Unlike others, she had transmigrated into this world, so she knew many things that others did not.

She knew that the biggest villain in the novel was the “White-headed Old Man,” and that Luo Li’s disappearance was likely related to this antagonist.

Just like Yun Miao, Luo Li’s name had never appeared in the original novel; she was probably an insignificant cannon fodder character, and her disappearance would likely go unnoticed.

Yun Miao would not allow her good friend to simply be discarded like that.

Whether for the sake of rescuing her friend or to find the villain, Yun Miao had to take action.

In the afternoon, with the sun shining brightly and the sky a deep blue, the classes at Chongwen Academy were temporarily suspended due to Luo Li’s disappearance, so Yun Miao did not need to attend school.

At the request of her father, Minister Yun, and her mother, Madam Mu, she stayed quietly in her room, holding a book by the window, appearing obedient and well-behaved.

But as soon as she heard her parents’ footsteps fade away down the corridor, Yun Miao put on a hooded robe and stealthily descended the stairs, pushed open a small side door in the backyard, and silently slipped out.

The wind rustled through the pages of her book, and a note reading “Do not leave the house for the time being” remained quietly on the table between some rolled-up papers.

—

“Madam!”

In the bustling underground casino of the Hundred Ghosts Alley, the steward, Old Dong, immediately bowed and greeted Yun Miao as soon as he saw her at the counter.

Yun Miao took off her hood and listened to Old Dong’s report on the recent business situation as they walked into the dimly lit inner hall. She casually asked, “Is Xie Zhiyuan here?”

Old Dong paused, then shook his head. “The Third Prince hasn’t come around recently.”

Yun Miao nodded, took a sip of tea, and drank slowly.

She didn’t explain why she asked about him, and Old Dong didn’t dare to question her, standing respectfully beside her.

Ever since Yun Miao ordered a large purchase of Dragon Blood Grass some time ago, Old Dong had realized she was in charge of the business at Hundred Ghosts Alley, and would report the situation to her every time.

Xie Zhiyuan must have known about this by now, but he seemed unconcerned, tacitly allowing her involvement in the affairs of Hundred Ghosts Alley.

This young man seemed indifferent to most things.

Yun Miao wasn’t sure what he might care about, even wondering if there was anything he cared about at all.

She had asked about Xie Zhiyuan because she wanted him to help find her friend, Luo Li.

However, since Old Dong said he wasn’t at Hundred Ghosts Alley, he was likely at his mother, Concubine Shu’s, Rouyi Palace. Given the strict rules of the palace, Yun Miao couldn’t enter without an imperial decree.

Since she couldn’t find Xie Zhiyuan, Yun Miao had to come up with her own plan to rescue her.

“Madam,” Old Dong interrupted her thoughts, “our people found something in an alley on the west side of the city last night… It’s a valuable item, and we’re not sure how to deal with it. Please decide, Madam.”

A person emerged from behind the curtain, holding a lacquered tray with a jade bead on it, its luster radiant, shimmering with light.

Yun Miao looked down, blinking in surprise.

It was the jade bead from Luo Li’s bracelet.

“Where did you find this?” Yun Miao asked, maintaining her composure.

“Near the Wangyue Building in Pingkang Alley,” Old Dong answered. “That area is controlled by the Nanqi Gang. Our people were doing business there and found it by accident. We thought it might belong to someone from the Nanqi Gang, so we kept it for now.”

Nanqi Gang… This was the second time Yun Miao had heard this name.

The first time was on the day she transmigrated, from Xie Zhiyuan’s words. At that time, she hadn’t recalled what kind of gang it was.

Now, she remembered clearly—Nanqi Gang was a villainous beggar gang in the original story, based in the southern part of Chang’an City, in opposition to the Northern Beggar Gang.

In the original novel, the three leaders of Nanqi Gang were always in conflict with the main characters, Crown Prince Xie Kang and General’s daughter Jiang Kui. There was also a sinister leader of Nanqi Gang who had repeatedly injured the Crown Prince.

Most importantly, the villain “White-headed Old Man” seemed to secretly control this gang.

If she could find people from Nanqi Gang, perhaps she could trace the villain.

“I’ll go to the Wangyue Building,” Yun Miao said, putting down her tea cup, picking up the jade bead from the tray, and putting on her hood as she stood up.

She remembered the name “Wangyue Building.”

According to the original plot, after the autumn hunt, Nanqi Gang would kidnap the young leader of the Northern Beggar Gang, using the incident to lure out the Crown Prince’s hidden identity as “Puluo Xiansheng,” and attempt to kill him there.

Since the Wangyue Building would soon be the site of this kidnapping, Luo Li was likely also being held there.

“Madam, are you really going to the Wangyue Building?” Old Dong asked, his voice hesitant. “But that place is a brothel…”

Before he could finish, Yun Miao’s calm gaze interrupted him, and Old Dong quickly fell silent.

She must have her reasons for visiting the brothel.

He thought to himself.

It was certainly not to give the Third Prince a green hat.

With that thought in mind, Old Dong respectfully saw Yun Miao off from Hundred Ghosts Alley.

—

After leaving Hundred Ghosts Alley, Yun Miao did not go straight to the Wangyue Building. Instead, she first returned to the Yinchuan Yun residence.

The leaves rustled in the breeze, and the courtyard was bathed in sunlight. Both Minister Yun and Madam Mu were absent, leaving only the maids and a few young servants busy with chores, with long shadows cast on the stone steps.

Yun Miao quietly returned to her room through the side door, changed into a beautiful embroidered dress, and draped a light, smoky cloak over it. She instructed a few servants to prepare a carriage at the front gate and then set off for the Wangyue Building, specifically telling one maid to inform Madam Mu of her whereabouts.

As the wind blew, petals fell like rain, and the carriage wheels clattered over the pink-white streets, turning through the bustling main road before finally stopping at the entrance of the Wangyue Building.

Two young attendants stood at the door, and the jeweled carriage slowly stopped in front of them.

A slender hand gently lifted the curtain, followed by a gold-threaded skirt trailing elegantly on the ground, and Yun Miao, surrounded by two attendants holding fans and a maid holding an umbrella, stepped out.

“I want the most expensive private room at the Wangyue Building,” Yun Miao said crisply.

The two attendants looked up in surprise.

The young girl in front of them, flanked by her attendants, had a cold yet beautiful face, and a luxurious jade bracelet adorned her wrist.

She was clearly a wealthy patron.

The two attendants hurriedly stepped forward, bowing and ushering her inside.

“Is this your first time at Wangyue Building?” the madam of the house asked with a smile. “You’ve made the right choice. We have not only the best courtesans but also the largest Nanfeng Hall, with countless handsome young men…”

“Bring them all here,” the young lady interrupted coldly.

“Understood, understood!” The madam immediately dismissed the others and hurriedly made preparations.

She didn’t know that the seemingly world-wise young lady in front of her was actually silently cursing inside.

Damn. This was the first time Yun Miao had done something like this, and it was all to save her friend.

She knew that in ancient times, there was a profession called “xianggū” or “little male courtesan,” similar to modern-day male models or gigolos. Wealthy women would hire them for entertainment.

In this era, it was not particularly scandalous for women to visit brothels to hire male courtesans.

However, when a line of handsome young men stood in the room for her inspection, Yun Miao still blushed with embarrassment.

“Too old,” she said, suppressing her blush, and turned down one of the courtesans with a haughty demeanor.

“Too short,” she pointed at another.

“Too stupid,” she raised her chin.

She was as picky as when she rejected Madam Mu’s choice of suitors for her.

Until, at last, the most sought-after courtesan in Nanfeng Hall was dismissed with a despondent look, the madam could no longer hide her impatience.

She rubbed her hands and turned to the young lady sitting at the table, licking her lips. “May I ask what kind of young man you prefer?”

Yun Miao felt that it was about time.

“I want to see the leader of Nanqi Gang,” she said coolly.

“Iron Whip Hand” Ruan Wuji.

The room fell silent.

The madam’s expression changed instantly. She went from a smiling, friendly figure to a cold, stern one.

She quickly scanned the room, sternly dismissing all the attendants, and shut all the windows and doors.

The luxurious private room was now left with only the madam and Yun Miao.

The room was eerily quiet, and the madam’s gaze was sharp, while Yun Miao sipped tea, the sound of her silver chopsticks tapping the teacup ringing out clearly.

The madam’s eagle-like eyes were fixed on her as she slowly spoke, “How do you know this name?”

“I want to see ‘Iron Whip Hand’ Ruan Wuji,” Yun Miao repeated calmly.

This was part of her plan.

Since she had more or less confirmed that Luo Li was being held at the Wangyue Building, the next step was to negotiate with the people from Nanqi Gang.

The simplest way to meet Nanqi Gang members was to name one of their important figures, and the madam would naturally think that Yun Miao represented some powerful force, leading her to meet with someone from the gang.

Ruan Wuji was a frequently mentioned villain in the original novel, the leader of Nanqi Gang’s three great leaders.

However, he wasn’t a very important antagonist, usually defeated quickly by the protagonists and his name was as generic as a passerby.

Heaven knows how hard Yun Miao had to think to remember this name.

At this moment, Yun Miao, wearing a brocade dress that trailed on the ground, gently sipped tea from a delicate cup. Her long lashes drooped slightly, and as she spoke the name of the leader of the Nanqi gang, she exuded an air of authority, resembling a figure from the underworld. Her youthful appearance seemed irrelevant, and one couldn’t help but feel a sense of respect for her.

“I want to see Ruan Wuji.”

She repeated, her voice cold and proud.

The madam, her hand hidden beneath her large sleeve, silently clenched her fingers before slowly rising to her feet. She spoke softly, “Alright.”

•  

In the basement of the Wangyuelou, the glow of the setting sun spread across the floor.

Luo Li sat on the cold stone floor, hugging her knees, gazing at the sword-wielding young man leaning against the door, before lowering her head again to count the shifting shadows of light falling on the ground.

She had been locked up here the entire day.

Since she was kidnapped on her way to school the previous day, she was thrown into the back of a carriage and taken to several places before being delivered here, to this basement.

At first, the two men who had kidnapped her seemed to have other plans. However, halfway through, they recognized her as the eldest daughter of the Qinglian Luo family from the lotus-pattern jade pendant she wore. After an argument, they changed their minds and decided to deliver her to the underworld gang here.

Since last night, Luo Li hadn’t eaten anything. Only the young man guarding her occasionally slid a cold cup of tea through the iron bars, staring at her indifferently as she drank, before silently taking it away.

Luo Li was so hungry her head felt dizzy.

Her whole body ached, and she felt so miserable she wanted to cry, but she couldn’t bring herself to make a sound.

Just then, with a “clang,” the chains of the iron door suddenly unlocked.

Luo Li froze for a moment and looked up.

A girl entered, holding the hem of her dress, her flowing skirt brushing over the ground and casting a beam of light that seemed to transform the dim basement into something like a dream.

“Ah Miao?”

Luo Li murmured in disbelief, “How did you get here?”

The moment she recognized her friend, a wave of overwhelming grievance and discomfort surged through her, and she couldn’t help but start crying, tears falling like raindrops.

“Ah Miao, have you been captured too…?”

While crying, Luo Li wiped her eyes. “Will we be sold to traffickers…?”

“Ah Li, don’t cry.”

Yun Miao wiped away her tears. “I’m here to rescue you.”

Luo Li stopped crying, anxiously glancing around. She whispered, “How are you going to save me?”

Before answering, Yun Miao turned to look cautiously at the sword-wielding young man by the door. Then, Luo Li said, “He’s not a bad person.”

“You remember when I told you about a young man I met near the Chongwen Academy?” Luo Li whispered. “He said his name was Luo Xiaojiu, a swordsman from the underworld.”

“He seems to know everyone here.”

She continued in a low voice, “He was the one who watched over me as I was brought here. Though he never spoke to me, he would give me water to drink and made sure no one bullied me…”

Her face flushed as she lowered her head. “Although he’s not exactly a good person, I’m not afraid of him.”

Yun Miao turned to look at the young man at the door for a moment. They were far apart, and the indifferent young man seemed disinterested in eavesdropping.

“But, Ah Li…”

Yun Miao hesitated, leaning in to whisper, “She’s not a young man.”

“She’s a girl,” Yun Miao emphasized.

“What!” Luo Li’s eyes widened.

“She’s just dressed as a boy.”

Yun Miao glanced at the door. “If you carefully observe her build, especially her neck, you’ll notice there is no Adam’s apple. It’s easy to tell she’s a girl.”

Luo Li stared carefully at the young man by the door. After a moment, she confirmed that he was not a young man, but actually a young woman.

She wore black tight clothing, her long hair tied up in a high bun, and a curved sword hanging from her waist, the blade exuding a cold, sharp aura.

“She’s actually a girl…”

Luo Li started wiping her tears again. “My first crush is over just like this.”

“Don’t cry, Ah Li. Listen to me.”

Yun Miao patted her head, changing to a serious tone. “I’ve spoken with the people here. We’re going to leave in a carriage. I’ve already informed my parents of my whereabouts. Once we leave, the authorities will find us.”

“There will be someone to rescue us,” she said firmly.

“How did you convince them to let us go?” Luo Li asked with wide eyes.

“I said I was a steward under the leader of the Nanqi gang, here to bring you to meet him.”

Yun Miao lowered her voice. “I’m going to loosen the ropes now. Once we’re outside, we’ll act according to the situation.”

“You’re a steward under the leader of the Nanqi gang?” Luo Li was confused.

“I made it up.”

Yun Miao whispered. “My acting skills today are top-notch.”

With Luo Li looking at her in admiration, Yun Miao untied the ropes on her wrist, stood up, and led her out of the basement.

Outside Wangyuelou, a carriage was waiting. Four armed guards stood on either side, with a burly man at the front holding a large stone hammer, waiting silently nearby.

“Zhao Er, the second boss.”

Yun Miao nodded slightly to him.

This hammer-wielding man was Zhao Buqun, the second boss of the Nanqi gang.

Yun Miao was able to impersonate a steward of the Nanqi gang leader and issue orders because she had spent quite some time recalling details from the original story. She remembered a secret about the three bosses of the Nanqi gang mentioned in the book.

The highest-ranking leader of the Nanqi gang was the “Boss,” and the three bosses beneath him were Ruan Wuji, Zhao Buqun, and Zhang Yunshan.

These three men had different surnames and appeared to be at odds with each other, but in fact, they were blood brothers. They feigned animosity to avoid becoming each other’s weakness.

This secret was known to only a few people within the Nanqi gang. Those who knew it were all high-ranking members, close to the leader of the Nanqi gang.

At Wangyuelou, the Nanqi gang leader, Ruan Wuji, was absent, and Yun Miao was meeting with the second boss, Zhao Buqun.

She claimed to be a steward of the Nanqi gang leader and was able to speak fluently about many matters related to the gang, which quickly convinced Zhao Buqun to follow her orders and take Luo Li to meet the leader.

By now, Yun Miao’s parents had likely been informed of her whereabouts. As long as they could leave Wangyuelou, the authorities would soon come to rescue them.

The sound of hooves echoed as the carriage slowly turned onto the street.

Yun Miao lifted the curtain to look outside, trying to find an opportunity to escape with Luo Li, but she saw a tall figure approaching from around the corner.

Yun Miao squinted, recognizing that the man holding a whip was Ruan Wuji, the leader of the Nanqi gang.

For a moment, she felt a surge of panic and gently lowered the curtain.

Through a small gap between the curtain, she saw Ruan Wuji stop by a cart and speak in low tones to his brother Zhao Buqun. He then suddenly turned around.

His sharp gaze landed directly on the carriage.

“May I ask, Steward…”

Ruan Wuji’s voice, soft yet piercing, came from outside the carriage. “Did the Boss personally order the hostage to be brought to him?”

“Yes,” Yun Miao answered coldly, “He said it himself.”

“Sorry to trouble you, Steward, but I have a small question…”

Ruan Wuji’s gaze sharpened as he focused on the curtain, “Do you happen to know the name of the Boss?”

Yun Miao’s heart tightened.

The fact that Ruan Wuji asked this question meant he was already suspicious of her identity.

As she frantically recalled details from the original story, she quietly squeezed Luo Li’s hand and silently signaled her.

She then responded coldly, “The Boss’s name is a secret in the gang, even within Nanqi. Ruan Da Boss, what is your intent in asking this?”

Ruan Wuji let out a hoarse laugh.

“‘Steward’,” he repeated mockingly, “You know a lot.”

“Unfortunately…”

His voice suddenly grew cold. “The Boss doesn’t have the surname ‘Duan’!”

Yun Miao was stunned: Why was the description in the original story wrong?

At the same moment, swords and knives were drawn!

Luo Li cried out as someone covered her mouth and dragged her away, while Yun Miao was forcefully pulled out and taken to a nearby alley.

One of the guards kicked her on the knee, forcing her to fall onto the hard stone ground. Another pressed her shoulder, forcing her to stand shakily.

Her hairpins fell to the ground with a clattering sound.

The person questioning her drew a long knife, pressing its cold edge against her jaw, forcing her head to tilt upward.

The gleaming blade reflected her pale, flawless face in the golden light of the setting sun.

“Speak!”

The interrogator’s voice was cold. “Who ordered you to impersonate a member of Nanqi?”

The tip of the blade drew a line across her skin, and a bright drop of blood fell.

The pain was unbearable, and Yun Miao couldn’t speak.

Her breath was ragged, her body trembling.

Tears welled up in her eyes. She had never felt such pain before. It hurt so much she wanted to cry, but she fought to hold back.

Surrounded by blades, every gaze was icy and filled with killing intent.

The interrogator stood there, pressing the knife to her, waiting for an answer.

But the question was impossible to answer. Answering would mean death. Not answering would also mean death.

Would she die here…?

Would anyone come to save her…?

The golden light swirled as the wind tousled her hair.

Desperation gripped her, and she closed her eyes gently.

“Sigh.”

Just then, someone behind her sighed softly.

“I didn’t want to come, but the people from the Hundred Ghosts Lane told me you came here alone.”

A flash of crimson light rose! It wasn’t the swirling glow of the setting sun, but the gleam of a blade.

Before she could even scream, the interrogator collapsed to the ground, the sword that had been pointed at Yun Miao was gone.

In the next moment, a figure appeared, and the sound of blades falling to the ground rang out.

“Enemy attack! Enemy attack!” Nanqi gang members shouted as they charged forward.

Yun Miao quickly turned around.

Standing behind her, stepping through the sea of glowing light, was a young man in a deep red brocade robe, holding a three-foot-long sword.

The tip of the sword was covered with bright red blood, dripping down the almost translucent blade.

“Everyone, long time no see.”

The evening wind billowed, lifting his robes. The young man raised his gaze, staring at the enemy in front of him, and smiled as he said:

“I’m here to kill someone.”