I really wish I could take you both with me to Huyang. Who knows how long this rebellion suppression will take; I’ll miss you two terribly.”

Zhou Ni and Cheng Susu were delighted to see my attachment to them. Cheng Susu said, “Husband, unlike Linglong and Yun Yao, we can’t actually help you. Following along would just be a burden. It’s better for us to stay home and await your triumphant return.”

I nodded. The ranks suppressing this rebellion already included two burdens, especially one who was proving quite troublesome. If they came too, I don’t know how many men would need to be assigned to look after this gaggle of women. This isn't a war on Earth. Honestly, deep down, I wasn’t entirely confident in this kind of situation where the weak were fighting the strong.

“Brother Zhao, come look at the diamonds I’ve been cutting recently. Many of them are top-grade fancy colors. These would be worth a fortune back on Earth,” Zhou Ni said, bringing over a small box and opening it for me.

The small box was packed full of diamonds, an extraordinary array of colors. I picked up a handful but sighed again, “What a pity that the people here don’t recognize their worth. Otherwise, these things would be priceless treasures.”

Zhou Ni happily let me admire the diamond necklace she was wearing. It was exquisitely cut, a dazzling mix of colors, and undeniably alluring. “As long as we recognize their worth, that’s enough. I plan to make some more diamond jewelry to send back to our sisters on Earth.”

A flash of inspiration struck my mind. Precisely because others don’t recognize their worth, we have an opportunity. If diamonds were as precious as iron, wouldn't someone else have already monopolized them? The people of the Twin Cities don’t realize the value of diamonds—I can guide them! Although these hard little stones are common, they only see them uncut. I can market exquisitely crafted jewelry made from processed diamonds to the wealthy merchants of the Twin Cities.

I reached out and took the diamond necklace from Zhou Ni’s neck. It truly sparkled beautifully. If I made it into other ornaments—for instance, the local girls usually tie their hair with just a simple red string—I could create diamond flowers, diamond hairpins, diamond rings, diamond bracelets, and diamond earrings. Oh, right, people here don't have pierced ears, but I can ask Zhou Ni to help them get them pierced!

The thought of a path to riches made me laugh out loud. Zhou Ni and Cheng Susu looked at each other, confused. “What’s wrong? You have such a wicked look on your face. Do you have another scheme?”

I pulled Zhou Ni into an embrace and bit gently at the fair skin of her chest where the necklace usually rested. “Good wife, I’ve thought of a way to make money, all thanks to your reminder.”

Zhou Ni giggled lightly, feeling tickled. “What is it? Tell us both!”

I said, “We’ll make diamond jewelry.”

“What for?” the two women asked. “The people here don’t recognize them. What use is it if we make them?”

I explained, “It’s precisely because they don’t recognize them that we can take advantage! Haven’t many people been bringing us gifts recently? You two start by making some diamond ornaments to return as gifts to their families. The key is to explain the method of wearing these diamond ornaments and their benefits to the wives of the officials. You two, plus the women in the palace, must set an example by wearing them yourselves. I believe with their influence, it won't take long for the Twin City populace to consider wearing these items a mark of pride. That will be the day we strike it rich!”

The two women hesitated slightly. “Do you think this plan will work? Changing their mindset of valuing iron over diamonds will likely be difficult.”

I countered, “Why wouldn’t it work? It costs us nothing to try, it only takes some time to craft more diamond ornaments. Oh, by the way, are there any spare necklaces? The three of you and Linglong should start wearing some. Later, I’ll send some to sisters Ma Xiaowei, and also to Chenchen and Jingjing. Your influence matters a great deal.”

Cheng Susu blushed deeply. “Do you still dare to see them? Zhou Ni and I have called them several times, but they won’t pick up. They were definitely angry that day—you actually… did that in front of them…”

I waved it off. “It’s fine. If they truly saw the data on their phones, I believe they will ultimately still be my wives. I know Chenchen and Jingjing are the type of women who remain faithful once committed. Besides, I didn't leave them with a bad impression before. Their return is only a matter of time. The current problem is, why can only your two phones communicate with each other, while mine can’t? We’re using the exact same model with the same functions.”

Cheng Susu replied, “I don’t know either. I was just messing around with the settings out of boredom, and then many functions got scrambled. Ni Ni helped me restore it to factory settings. Later that night, I accidentally managed to connect with Chenchen and the others.”

I shook my head in disbelief. “No way. From what you’re saying, it sounds nothing special. Could my phone be broken?”

Zhou Ni said to me, “It shouldn't be. I’ve used your phone; all the other functions are normal. Why don't you try restoring your phone to factory settings too?”

I hesitated. “Will that work? Don't joke around.”

Zhou Ni said, “How will you know if you don't try? It’s hardly any effort. Hand it over, and I’ll adjust it for you.”

While Zhou Ni was adjusting my phone, I quietly embraced Cheng Susu from behind, and we tumbled onto the bed. Cheng Susu covered my mouth, stopping me from kissing her. “Stop, it’s still light out. You aren't going back to the Imperial Stable tonight, are you?”

“I’m not going back. I’ll stay and spend a night of ecstasy with the three of you. Susu, I love you.”

Cheng Susu hugged me passionately. “Husband, I love you too. I was immature before; please forgive me. I won’t do it again.”

I asked, “Forgive you for what? You haven't done anything wrong.”

Cheng Susu confessed, “Husband, I had doubts about you before. Even though we had physical contact, I rejected you that night at the Feiyu County Seat, and in the days after we arrived at the Zhao Residence, I always intentionally or unintentionally avoided you…”

I kissed Cheng Susu, cutting her off. “Stop talking. Do you think your husband is that petty? Besides, you had amnesia after all. Being cautious was completely correct. If you had thrown yourself into my arms immediately upon meeting me, I would have been angry. It’s the same with Chenchen and Jingjing now—I’m not angry with them; in fact, I’m happy about their caution. Even if I had to chase them to the ends of the earth, I would bring them back.”

Cheng Susu felt deeply moved, her body trembling slightly as she held me. “Husband, I am so happy to have your love again. But you shouldn’t have been so intimate in front of Chenchen and Jingjing that day. They have misunderstood your relationship with us now.”

I countered, “You are mistaken. If they truly saw what was stored on their phones, then seeing us being intimate together would only make them completely believe the truth of our situation. Sooner or later, they will come to the Zhao Residence on their own initiative. Just wait and see, I dare you.”

Cheng Susu laughed. “Are you always this confident? Just like with this rebellion suppression—you are confident you can defeat them, right?”

I nodded. “We have the advantage in weaponry, and our experience in warfare is hundreds, even thousands of times greater than that of these humans on the Twin Stars. If we still can’t defeat them under these circumstances, it would be inexcusable. However, the rebels have an absolute numerical advantage, so I dare not be careless in the slightest.”

“That’s wonderful! Brother Zhao, come look quickly! The connection is successful!” Zhou Ni shouted from the table after fiddling with two phones for a moment.

Cheng Susu and I jumped off the bed instantly. Sure enough, my phone was directly connected to Cheng Susu’s!

I was stunned. “It was that simple? You just restored the factory settings?”

Zhou Ni replied, “Yes. I don’t know anything about repairs; I just restored it like that. See? It works.”

I almost wanted to smash my head against Cheng Susu’s firm backside and die. For the last two days, I had been contemplating finding a screwdriver to take it apart and examine it, only to find that fixing it was this easy. Isn't this ridiculous? It seems things that seem complicated in imagination can actually be very simple; the complexity comes from us overthinking it.

Cheng Susu laughed. “Husband, you can now connect directly with Chenchen and the others! Even the distance to Huyang shouldn't affect communication. You don't have to fear being lonely on the journey.”

I replied, “Being able to contact you and Zhou Ni at all times is what I need most right now. As for Chenchen and Jingjing, I’ll give them some space to imagine for now. With these three phones, our intelligence work can be a step ahead. It’s a shame we only have three. If we could spare one more for Ah Mao, communication would be much more convenient.”

Zhou Ni offered, “Why don’t you take ours? Intelligence is the key to victory.”

I refused. “No, you must keep one, otherwise, if something happens at home, you won’t be able to notify me.”

Zhou Ni suggested, “If we need to contact you, we can go to Jingjing’s place and just borrow their phone. Even if they don’t recognize us, they wouldn’t be so stingy, would they?”

I thought that made sense. It would be good for Zhou Ni and Cai Jingjing to have more chances to interact. Having Ah Mao, who is responsible for scouting enemy situations, able to contact me at any time is the most crucial thing. I refuse to believe that with the support of advanced Earth equipment, we still can’t defeat the rebels.

“Alright then. Ah Mao will take Susu’s phone. If you have an issue, go find Xu Chen in the inner city. Jingjing won’t be so ungenerous as to refuse to lend it. I have a waist token here; I’ll leave it for you two when I leave tomorrow. With this token, you can enter the palace at any time.”

Cheng Susu said, “Delete all the data from my phone. It would be a huge problem if someone else saw it.”

Zhou Ni laughed. “Sister Susu, don't be reluctant. Your personal data can be temporarily stored on Brother Zhao’s phone. As for those videos, he has them all. We mostly copied them back from him. Don’t worry.”

Recalling the contents of the phone, Cheng Susu said shyly, “I’m not reluctant at all. As long as Husband is by our side, everything else isn’t important.”

Zhou Ni agreed. “Yes, it’s really not important. If it’s lost, we can just record it again. You and Husband are still as wild as you used to be. Sister Yun Yao and I can’t even learn that from you.”

“Oh no, oh no, Master!” Linglong suddenly rushed into the room, panting. Thankfully, the three of us weren't doing anything untoward, or Linglong would have caught us again. Why is this girl always so flustered when handling matters?

“What’s wrong, rushing around like that?” I asked.

Linglong reported breathlessly, “Shi Qing came back crying! She said the Yu family not only refused to ransom the person but also beat Shi Shan and Sun Chang and arrested them. You must go help her quickly; she’s crying so miserably.”

Hearing this, I became furious. “What’s going on? Is the Yu family the Emperor of Heaven? How dare they beat men from the Imperial Stable? Didn’t they demand as much money as they wanted? Ransom the person, that’s all! How dare they resort to violence?”

Linglong explained, “Shi Qing said the Yu family’s master is the biological brother of the Judicial Commissioner of the Outer City. He doesn’t pay any mind to common folk. They reneged on their promise to release Shi Shuang, saying the Young Master of the Yu family intends to take Shi Shuang as a concubine.”

Shi Shan is currently my capable assistant. He is diligent and meticulous in his work and can come up with many good ideas on his own. I wanted him to contribute during this rebellion suppression. Even setting aside those points, I had promised to help redeem his second sister. Now, running into this obstructionist, and he dares to disregard the Imperial Stable’s authority? That’s disrespecting me! I am currently a favored official in the eyes of both the Emperor and the Crown Prince, and even Grand Tutor Pang treats me with courtesy. Does this Yu family dare to be so arrogant relying on the connection of an Outer City Judicial Commissioner? Today, I will pull a tooth from the tiger’s mouth and let the entire Twin Cities know the consequences of offending the Imperial Stable and the Eastern Depot.

I ordered Linglong, “Notify Ah Mao to immediately mobilize men from the Eastern Depot! Bring plenty of gear.”

“What are you doing?” the three women asked.

“Raiding their residence!” Damn it. I had planned to establish the might of the Eastern Depot after returning from suppressing the rebellion, but it looks like I have to start early.

Shi Qing was terrified, nearly paralyzed with fear, hiding in her room and crying secretly. I gently pushed open the door. Shi Qing’s room was sparse and clean, containing only a bed and a broken table on which sat a peach-wood comb. What a pitiful sight. It seems my care for her has been insufficient until now.

I said softly, “Shi Qing, stop crying. I’ll go with you to demand their release. Don't worry; I will definitely bring your brother and your second sister back safely. I, Zhao Qian, swear it—no one can offend my people!”

Shi Qing stopped crying abruptly when she heard someone speaking. She looked up and saw me. “Master, why are you here? This is a servant’s room; it’s too dirty for you to enter.”

Compared to the rooms of Zhou Ni, Yun Yao, and Cheng Susu, or even Linglong’s, Shi Qing’s room was truly that of a servant. The other girls’ rooms had all sorts of things, even various small snacks, for them to fill their stomachs if they got hungry at night. There were also plenty of clothes and cosmetics. But this room was too desolate. I seemed to have forgotten Shi Qing. Other than the night she first arrived at the Zhao Residence when she washed my feet, I had almost no other distinct memories of her.

“Shi Qing, you don’t need to think of yourself as a servant. No one here treats you like one. Linglong told me about what just happened. I came to reassure you first—we are setting off for the Yu Residence now. You just wait to hear the good news.”

“Master…” Shi Qing wanted to speak but hesitated, yet the gratitude in her eyes was eloquent.

I declared, “I’m leaving now. Don’t cry. The Yu family dared to do that because they disrespected the Imperial Stable. This time, I will certainly make them suffer their crimes.”

“Master, the Yu family has powerful backing… maybe… maybe forget it. It’s Shi Qing who is troublesome.”

I grew slightly angry. “What! Forget it? Your brother and my personal guards are still inside! They have backing? What are you afraid of? Our backing is even stronger! Besides, this is about who has the greater power right now; backing won't work.”

Shi Qing’s tear-filled eyes shone with hope. She stood up firmly. “Master, I’m coming with you.”

I agreed. “That’s fine, but you can’t cry anymore. It would look terrible for your second sister to see you like that. You’re such a beautiful girl; crying will spoil your face.”

Shi Qing lowered her head, acting coyly. “Master always knows how to please people. I… I’m not pretty. The three Madams are truly beautiful.”

I smiled without replying. Shi Qing’s small frame was slowly becoming fuller, making her pretty face even more prominent. She was actually a very nice girl, a standard Twin Cities beauty—just the type with a smaller bust. That’s characteristic of the women here; Ma Xiaowei is somewhat of an anomaly.

The group sat in the front hall for a short while before Ah Mao rushed into the Zhao Residence. “Sir, what happened?”

I briefly recounted the events. Ah Mao stomped his foot fiercely. “The Yu family is too overbearing! This clearly shows they don't respect the Imperial Stable, Sir. What are your plans? This matter cannot be dropped, or they will climb all over us in the future.”

I stated, “Although this involves the Imperial Stable, I want to use this opportunity to establish the authority of the Eastern Depot. Does the Yu family have detailed records? See if there are any loopholes we can exploit.”

Ah Mao called in a Third Ranker whom I did not recognize. The Second Rankers were appointed by me, but the Third Rankers were chosen by the Second Rankers themselves. This Third Ranker held a thick ledger, made of paper produced by the Imperial Stable, and the writing tool used was an Imperial Stable-manufactured pencil.

Ah Mao flipped through the ledger for a moment. “Sir, the Yu family is an established clan in the Twin Cities. Their ancestors primarily dealt in silk. In this generation, there are two brothers. The elder, Yu Bao, continues the ancestral business of silk trade. The younger, Yu Bei, bought the position of Judicial Commissioner of the Outer City. He belongs to a peripheral faction of the Pang Party. If there is an exploitable loophole, it’s that Yu Bao recently had a shipment of silk pass through Huyang Prefecture. Reportedly, the buyer for this batch was Prince Shou. However, the intelligence network in Huyang hasn't been established yet, so this rumor requires confirmation.”

I concluded, “That’s enough. The Yu family has now arrested Shi Shan and Sun Chang. Even if he hadn't sold silk to Prince Shou, we will pin this matter on them! Are the Eastern Depot men here? Let’s go to the Yu Residence and make the arrests!”

Linglong and Yun Yao flanked Shi Qing on either side, while the three women followed behind me, leading thirty personal guards out of Ginkgo Hutong. On the main street, teams of Depot Guards, clad in their striking Flying Fish Uniforms, each carrying a bundle on their backs—judging by the shape, likely containing Thunder Shakers—followed. Five hundred guards were followed by ten ballistae. These strange-looking contraptions, combined with the striking uniforms of the men, caused pedestrians to stop and point. Soon, someone recognized these men in Flying Fish Uniforms as members of the newly established Eastern Depot Office.

Linglong exclaimed upon the first glance, “These clothes are so beautiful!”

Ah Mao replied, “Captain Linglong, these were personally designed by the Master. The Weaving Bureau finished five hundred pieces today. I just received the order from the Master to deploy, so I had them change into these. This is the ceremonial uniform of the Eastern Depot; its grandeur is unmatched. With this debut, the Eastern Depot will make a name for itself in the Twin Cities.”

Ah Mao attributing the design to me made me feel a bit awkward, as I had simply copied historical styles from the Great Dragon Kingdom. If I had to draw the uniform sketches myself, I’d rather go kill a few people. Looking at this group of Depot Guards armed with swords, bows, and a pack of Thunder Shakers, I commented, “Isn’t this a bit excessive? We aren't going to suppress a rebellion; we are just arresting people. Do we need such a large display?”

Ah Mao retorted, “Sir, you just said this is about establishing authority. How can we do it without appropriate pomp?”

“It is too grand. We’ve even brought out the ballistae we just equipped today. Never mind, this is a good chance to test their power. Let’s go!”

Inside the Yu Residence, the atmosphere was still peaceful. Young Master Yu Wei was reclining on a lounge chair, being attended to by a pretty little maid who peeled fruit and fed it to him from time to time. Yu Wei said, “Shi Shuang, tomorrow Master will formally take you in. You won’t have to do these chores anymore; you can just enjoy comfort, Muba.”

Drip, drip. A few tears fell onto the plate of fruit. Shi Shuang knew her fate was sealed. The Young Madam already beat her daily; if she were taken in as a concubine, the Young Madam would surely beat her to death. Furthermore, she didn't like this Young Master Yu at all. She had even considered that even if she married a pig or a dog in the future, she would never marry this beast. This was because a former maidservant friend, whom Yu Wei had later taken as a concubine, had told Shi Shuang that the Young Master was a pervert. Shi Shuang had seen the piercings on that girlfriend’s body—things that no normal person could do.

Yu Wei looked up and happened to see the tear stains on Shi Shuang’s face. He became furious. “Damn it! You refuse the offered toast and choose the penalty drink! I’m in a good mood today, discussing this with you. Do you want another beating? If you don’t obey, believe it or not, I’ll bestow you upon the servants, letting them defile you night after night!”

Shi Shuang immediately knelt with a thud. “Young Master, I beg you to let me go. Shi Shuang is still young; I don’t want to marry.”

Yu Wei raised his foot and kicked her aside. Just then, Steward Yu rushed in. “Young Master, the people have been arrested, but that Shi Qing managed to escape in the chaos.”

“What!” Yu Wei, already boiling with rage, glared fiercely at Steward Yu. The steward quickly stammered, “Young Master, please calm down. I’ll immediately send the house servants out to look for her. I doubt a mere girl can get far on her own. Besides, her brother Shi Shan and that other fellow are still in our hands. I’ve already ordered them sent to the Judicial Commissioner of the Outer City. With a word from Second Master, they can be locked up for ten or eight years, and then the Shi sisters will be under Young Master’s complete control? Heh heh, we can play however we like.”

Shi Shuang didn't know about the previous events. Hearing their conversation, she frantically crawled over, clinging to Yu Wei’s leg. “Young Master, what happened to my brother and my sister? Please, let them go; please have mercy.”

Thwack! Yu Wei sent someone sprawling again with a kick. This time, the force landed somewhat precisely on Shi Shuang’s chest, stealing her breath and knocking her unconscious. Butler Yu glanced at the pitiable little figure on the ground and said, “Young Master, that Shi Shan is reportedly working at the Imperial Horse Bureau now. Perhaps we should exercise more caution in this matter. The Imperial Horse Bureau is gaining significant prestige these days; even Grand Tutor Pang treats their officials with great deference. What if…?”

Yu Wei scoffed. “Are you suggesting Shi Shan is an official there? Do you expect this Young Master to apologize to him?”

Butler Yu bowed low. “This servant wouldn’t dare. Young Master, Shi Shan is certainly not an official, but I fear if he has any connection to the Imperial Horse Bureau officials, we won't know how to explain ourselves to them.”

Yu Wei sneered. “What connection could he possibly have? Isn't Shi Shan just a slave bought by the Bureau? What success can a mere stonemason achieve? Is he likely to become Grand Eunuch Zhao’s brother-in-law?”

Butler Yu replied, “Unlikely. How could that little wretch Shi Qing be so lucky? Rumor has it that all of Eunuch Zhao’s wives are stunningly beautiful, and they all have considerable assets. He wouldn't fancy a vast, flat plain like Shi Qing.”

Mentioning women, Yu Wei burst into laughter. “But I do fancy that little ** Shi Qing. Hurry and send someone to fetch her for me! With her brother gone, she can’t have fled far. Once we catch her, we'll force her to sign a contract of servitude. Then, even if the Emperor himself came, we’d be in the right. As the saying goes, with justice on your side, you fear no one under heaven, and no one can touch us.”

“Bad news, bad news!” A house servant rushed in, panting. “Young Master, something terrible has happened!”

Yu Wei kicked the servant. “Calm yourself! You have no manners whatsoever. What could possibly make you so frantic?”

The messenger rubbed his sore backside. “Young Master, a crowd of strangely dressed people has surrounded our Yu Residence! They demand we hand someone over within the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, or they will charge in and ransack the manor!”

“Nonsense! In broad daylight, who dares surround the Yu Residence? Moreover, we are in the Central City; who would dare act so brazenly right under the noses of the Imperial Guards?” Yu Wei declared grandly.

“It’s true, Young Master, I am not lying! They are aggressive, and our guards have already shut the gates and prepared their blades!” The servant was near tears with anxiety.

Butler Yu saw that the servant wasn’t joking—and joking about such a thing would be suicidal for him. He composed himself. “What kind of people are they, and why are they doing this?”

The servant stammered, “I don’t know! There are over five hundred of them, each carrying a sword or bow, with bundles strapped to their backs. They also have ten bundles of something that looks like bamboo tubes. They are incredibly arrogant, seemingly unafraid of retaliation from the Yu Residence. When someone shouted at them, they responded by firing crossbow bolts; two of our guards are already wounded.”

Yu Wei was startled. Five hundred men? That number didn't suggest commoners; it sounded like government forces. Thinking of this, Yu Wei urgently asked, “They demand we hand someone over—who? When did the Yu Residence ever cross them?”

The servant replied, “I don't know, Young Master! They won't let us speak to them!”

Butler Yu cursed, “Useless lout, knowing nothing! Hurry out and find a way to gather intelligence! Also, send someone to slip out and report to the Judicial Office in the Outer City, asking Second Master to dispatch yamen runners for rescue! If your Master’s business is ruined because of the Young Master’s affairs while he’s away, you’ll all answer for it.”

The servant scurried away dejectedly. Yu Wei said, “Let’s go out and see. Such a large contingent of soldiers in the Central City must be officials. I suspect there’s been a misunderstanding here. Butler Yu, immediately prepare a sack of iron coins; we might need to offer them as a gesture if necessary.”

Butler Yu acknowledged the order and went to the treasury for the funds. Yu Wei, accompanied by a few personal guards, arrived at the main gate. Seeing it firmly shut, Yu Wei commanded, “Open the gate! I need to speak with the officer in charge of those people. Once we clear up this misunderstanding, everything will be fine.”

A guard advised, “Young Master, perhaps you should speak to them from atop the wall. If the gate is opened and they rush in, it will be trouble. It’s not too late to open the gate after we’ve cleared up the misunderstanding. Just be careful, Young Master; if they shoot arrows, duck down immediately!”

Yu Wei recalled the messenger saying the opposition was arrogant. He nodded. “That makes sense. Bring a ladder.”

The ladder was quickly fetched. Yu Wei climbed atop the wall and peered out. On the street outside the Yu Residence, precisely arrayed soldiers in bright uniforms stood guard, bows and swords ready, completely sealing off the manor. Furthermore, several strange vertical tubes were aimed at the main gate. Yu Wei racked his brain; none of the Imperial Guards wore such attire. Who exactly were these people?

“Brothers below! I am Yu Wei, Young Master of the Yu Residence! Which contingent do you belong to? If the Yu Residence has offended you in any way, please forgive us. I shall instruct the butler to bring a sack of iron coins for your tea expenses. Lay down your arms, and let’s talk peaceably.”

Suddenly, a voice from within the Feiyu armor shouted loudly, “Time’s up! If the person is not surrendered, aim the ballistae at the wall and fire!”

Yu Wei froze. He saw those strange vertical tubes suddenly swivel and aim directly at the section of the wall where he stood. Whizzz, whizzz, whizzz—the continuous piercing sound of air being torn filled the air. One hundred arrows flew from one hundred bamboo tubes. Fortunately, having just been warned, Yu Wei instantly retracted his head below the parapet. Boom, boom, boom! The wall shuddered repeatedly. Plaster dust rained down from the inner wall surface. Several lances flew over the top of the wall; one narrowly grazed the top of Yu Wei’s scalp, terrifying him so much he lost his footing and tumbled backward off the ladder.

Several house servants rushed forward to help Yu Wei up. “Young Master, are you alright? What’s happening outside? This wall seems like it will be pierced through.”

Even as they spoke, a section of the grey brick wall was struck simultaneously by two arrows. Already slightly loose, the stone was suddenly subjected to two heavy impacts. Crash! The section of the wall tore loose and fell outward.

Several subsequent arrows drilled through the newly opened aperture, thud, thud, thud, embedding themselves near the eaves support of the front hall. Yu Wei fell to the ground again in terror. What were these things! If one of those hit a person, it would surely kill them instantly.

The courtyard wall of the Yu Residence was not particularly thick. Once a breach was torn, it gave way like a bursting dike. After two volleys of arrows, the entire wall collapsed with a roar. All the Yu family servants were left dumbfounded. How could these arrows possess such immense power? Even the stone wall collapsed! Casual bystanders gathered far down the street to watch the spectacle were also terrified by the power of the ballistae. If the stone walls couldn't withstand four volleys, even the armored soldiers of the Imperial Guard might not survive! The news spread rapidly—from one to ten, then to a hundred—and before nightfall, the ballistae were being whispered about by onlookers as divine artifacts.

Hiss, hiss—a few strange sounds emanated from the collapsed breach in the wall. Over a dozen round objects were tossed inside. These things rolled a few times on the ground before beginning to spray smoke continuously throughout the Yu Residence courtyard. The house servants, who had been defensively positioned with swords and bows, immediately scattered in fright.

“Blast open the manor gate and go in to seize the people!” the voice from outside commanded again.

The tightly shut main gate of the Yu Residence was suddenly subjected to a rapid volley of arrows. How could mere wood compare to stone? One volley shredded the gate. Then, a group of men wearing Feiyu armor kicked open the ruined entrance. They rushed in, covering their mouths and noses with damp cloths.

Most of the Yu Residence servants had already been scattered by the smoke, but the entire manor was surrounded. They had nowhere left to run. The Feiyu guards searched everywhere. Chaotic shouts echoed throughout the Yu Residence; the scene was lively, resembling a flock of startled chickens and panicked dogs.

Yu Wei was standing in the center of the courtyard smoke. The strange fumes nearly made him cough his lungs out, and his throat felt parched, leaving him utterly miserable. When his vision finally cleared, he realized that all two hundred-plus residents of the Yu Residence had been corralled into the front courtyard. Before the smoke fully dissipated, a Grand Tutor's chair had mysteriously appeared at the entrance of the front hall, upon which sat a young man with short hair and a somewhat roguish grin.

Yu Wei did not recognize the man before him. He forced himself to clear his throat. That smoke was bizarre; it had made his head swim, his throat burn, and his entire body uncomfortable. “Who are you people? How dare you storm a private residence in broad daylight? This is beneath the Son of Heaven’s foot! Are you trying to rebel?”

Two Feiyu guards suddenly pressed their swords to Yu Wei’s neck. Yu Wei immediately fell silent. These men were truly arrogant; they wouldn't let him speak and wouldn't offer any explanation for their identity.

“Cat Commander, are all the required people present?” I took a sip of the tea brought by a personal guard. It tasted quite good; it seemed the Yu family knew how to enjoy life.

Ah Mao stepped forward and bowed. “Your Excellency, Director Shi and Elder Sun are not present, but everyone else has been accounted for. However, Yu Bao is not in the residence; he is away on business.”

To use five hundred men and make such a grand show just to seize people—if even one escaped, it would be a loss of face. Shi Shan and Elder Sun not being here must mean they were moved. A simple interrogation would reveal their whereabouts.

Before I could speak, Shi Qing cried out anxiously from behind me, “Impossible! My brother must have been captured by them! I saw it with my own eyes, Master! Please, save my brother!”

Butler Yu rubbed his eyes, which were red and swollen from the smoke. “You… you are Shi Shuang’s older sister? How… how are you here?”

Shi Qing rushed forward two steps and grabbed the lapel of Butler Yu’s robe. “Where is my brother? I saw you leading men to seize him and Elder Sun! Release my brother immediately!”

Butler Yu did not wish to lose face in front of so many retainers. He shouted fiercely at Shi Qing, “You are lying! This is the Yu Residence! We do not tolerate the insolence of a wretch like you!”

Butler Yu’s spittle sprayed onto Shi Qing’s face. Shi Qing was already deeply insecure; she had only dared to confront Butler Yu in her desperation. Now, startled by his outburst, she didn't know what to do and stood frozen on the spot.

Ah Mao was not pleased with this scene. He knew Shi Qing; sometimes, when dining at the Zhao Residence, they would chat, and he occasionally passed letters to her and her brother, Shi Shan. He knew this young girl was favored by the three mistresses. Now, to be berated by this vile household servant, he felt compelled to defend her honor.

Ah Mao took a heavy stick from one of the personal guards, turned, and with two swift, clean swings, shattered the Butler’s leg bones! The strikes were swift and decisive, carrying the ruthless efficiency of an Eastern Depot agent.

“Damn it! How dare a piece of filth like you insult Miss Shi! Tell us, where are the people!” Ah Mao questioned fiercely as he beat the butler, but Butler Yu was speechless. He gritted his teeth and promptly fainted.

Yu Wei, watching from the side, was horrified. What sort of people were these, to act with such cruelty? “Who… who are you? This is the Yu Residence! My Second Uncle is the Director of the Outer City Judicial Office; he knows many important people. Do not let your own side injure your own side by mistake.”

No one paid any attention to Yu Wei. Ah Mao spat on the fainted Butler Yu and then turned to Shi Qing. “Miss Shi, you need not be afraid. No one here dares bully you—not even the Director of the Outer City Judicial Office!”

Shi Qing said gratefully, “Thank you, Big Brother Mao.”

Ah Mao replied, “Why thank me? This is the Master’s express instruction. If you must thank someone, thank the Master.”

Just then, two agents carried out a small girl. Upon seeing her, Shi Qing burst into tears and rushed over, taking the child into her arms. “Second Sister, Second Sister, how are you? Don’t scare your sister! Sister has come to save you! Wake up quickly!”

Yun Yao stepped forward and checked Shi Shuang’s breathing. “Shi Qing, don't panic. Your second sister has merely fainted. If I press her philtrum point, she should wake up.”

Indeed, Yun Yao pinched Shi Shuang’s philtrum. Little Shi Shuang gave a delicate moan and awoke. When she opened her eyes, she saw her older sister and thought she was dreaming. “Sis, I dreamt of you again. You’ve gotten a little plumper and even prettier! I missed you so much!”

Shi Qing wiped away her tears. “Silly second sister, you aren’t dreaming. Sister is here to save you. Hurry and thank our Master.”

Shi Shuang had only been winded and recovered quickly. She looked around. Everything seemed so real; it couldn’t be a dream. But strangely, all those arrogant people from the Yu family, especially the Young Mistress who beat her every day, were now kneeling on the ground.

“Sis, I must still be dreaming. What’s wrong with the Young Master and Young Mistress?”

Shi Qing tugged Shi Shuang’s ear and then both girls knelt before the Grand Tutor’s chair. “Silly girl, wake up! They are no longer your Young Master and Young Mistress. Our Master is this Lord Zhao!”

Yun Yao and Linglong smiled and helped the Shi sisters stand up. Linglong commented, “Sister Shi Qing, your sister looks a lot like you. She’s just like you were when you first arrived at the Zhao Residence—a bit sallow and thin. We’ll need to nourish her body well later.”

Yu Wei’s wife was also a very beautiful woman. Usually haughty and proud, being suddenly dragged out for no apparent reason and forced to the ground ignited a great deal of resentment in her belly. Seeing the girl she constantly abused standing there with such dignity in front of her, she instantly flared up, forgetting the knives pressed against her neck. “Vile girl! So you’re the one who brought disaster upon our Yu Residence! I’ll surely beat you to death later! You wretch, you itch for a beating if you don't get one daily!”

Shi Shuang, terrified, threw herself into her sister’s embrace. She was already a bird startled by the mere twang of a bowstring.

I detest vicious women. I recall encountering one when I was running the Political Rectification Office—she was a mortal enemy of Zhao Ting’s family and met a terrible end. I exchanged a look with Ah Mao. Ah Mao clapped his hands, and immediately, two agents stepped forward.

“W-what are you doing?” Yu Wei’s wife was instantly afraid as she saw the malice in the men’s eyes.

The two agents said nothing. One grabbed Yu Wei’s wife from behind to immobilize her, while the other slapped her delicate face repeatedly from both sides—slap, slap, slap! After more than ten blows, the Yu family Young Mistress, who had just been screaming about needing a beating, spat blood. After enduring a little longer, she actually fainted, blood still trickling from her mouth. This terrified the Shi sisters, who hid behind the Grand Tutor’s chair.

Yu Wei was anxious, but a blade was still held to his neck. He finally understood: these people had no intention of letting him off. Trembling, he stammered, “Are you people from the Imperial Horse Bureau? The Imperial Horse Bureau dares to cause trouble in the Central City? I… I will report you.”

Ah Mao sneered, “You guessed wrong. We are from the Eastern Depot. The Imperial Horse Bureau has no jurisdiction to make arrests in the Central City, but we, the Eastern Depot, supervise all officials, investigate sedition, and provide intelligence to the Emperor. We can make arrests even in the Inner City! You want to report us? Fine, go ahead and report. Remember, my name is Ah Mao, and this is our Chief Commander, Lord Zhao. How many lives do you have to report us with?”

When the Yu family members heard that the person seated in the Grand Tutor’s chair was an official of the Imperial Horse Bureau, a Military Inspector of the Imperial Guard, a Grand Marshal commanding the Pinghuai forces, and the Chief Commander of the Eastern Depot, half of them collapsed. Rumors had been circulating throughout the city these past two days: some said he possessed divine magic, summoning divine soldiers overnight to annihilate the thirty thousand Red Turban Army without leaving a single survivor, leaving the ground outside the Imperial Horse Bureau awash in blood and piled high with corpses—truly hell on earth. Others claimed he was a malevolent star descended to earth, a veritable King of Executioners, who, outside the West City, had taken the heads of eight hundred retreating Imperial Guards with a single saber before leading the Imperial Guard to a great victory over the Red Turban Army. The Yu family had encountered such a star of destruction today; they were lucky if their entire clan wasn't exterminated or their estate confiscated.

Yu Wei truly hadn't expected the matter of Shi Shan to draw in the supreme authority of the Imperial Horse Bureau. To bring up his connection to the Outer City Judicial Office now was laughable. This man was a favorite of the Emperor, and the Crown Prince’s most respected teacher. Yu Wei considered his words. “You’re lying! There are no rebels here! You are framing us! I will appeal directly to the Emperor; you are abusing your power for personal gain, and even the Emperor won't let you get away with it!”

Ah Mao thought to himself, Of course, we want to frame you! “No need to argue. The Eastern Depot has already uncovered that your Yu family provided support to the rebel Prince Shou. If you confess honestly, you may receive lenient treatment. If you continue to resist to the end, death is your only path!”

“W-we never… we didn’t support Prince Shou. Y-you are fabricating stories.” Hearing the name Prince Shou, Yu Wei’s confidence visibly wavered.

A wave of suspicion washed over me. I quietly gave Ah Mao a few instructions, then turned to the guards behind me. “Break this stubborn fellow’s arm. Break one first. If he doesn't speak the truth, break the other. If both arms are broken and he still won’t speak, break both his legs. If both legs are broken and he still refuses, bury him in the ground with only his head exposed, then drill a hole in the top of his skull and pour in grease. I’ll use it to light my lamps for reading at night!”

Yu Wei couldn't quite picture the scenario of being lit up like a lantern, but having a hole drilled into his head certainly wouldn't be pleasant. Ah Mao was already having men dig a pit in the courtyard; it seemed this was no mere threat. Lord Zhao the Executioner wasn't planning to chop off heads this time, but rather to create a human lamp! Yu Wei was terrified into silence. At that moment, two agents stepped forward. Without a word, they brought a club down and truly snapped one of Yu Wei’s arms!

Yu Wei shrieked like a dog whose leg had been severed. “Mercy! I’ll talk! I’ll talk! Our Yu family, under the guise of transporting silk, provided a hundred carts of grain to Prince Shou. But that was my father’s greedy mistake; it has nothing to do with me! Spare my life, spare my life!”

Ah Mao and I were stunned. The rumor was that the Yu family sold luxury silks to Prince Shou, which offered little aid to a rebel. I had been worried about how to explain this to Ma Da, but now it turned out to be a hundred carts of grain supporting the rebels! This was a far greater crime—colluding with the enemy and betraying the country! A capital offense!

I smiled. “Your father is not here. For now, you will have the honor of being the first test subject in the Eastern Depot prison. Guards! Escort all of them back! Prepare the written confession transcript, and I will report to the Emperor later. Our Eastern Depot has achieved a major victory, capturing traitors who colluded with the enemy. The Emperor will surely reward everyone involved.”

The factory guards erupted in excitement. Following the right person made promotion and wealth too easy. United, the contingent escorted all two hundred members of the Yu family away. As for Yu Bao, since he was outside Shuangcheng, pursuit would be organized. As for the Yu family residence and assets, they would naturally be confiscated. There was an agreement with Ma Da on this: since the court provided no funding for the Eastern Depot, all confiscated property became the Depot’s ‘operational’ income.

I couldn’t stay for the confiscation; the Shi sisters were still looking at me expectantly. Shi Shuang knew her brother and Elder Sun had been taken to the Outer City Judicial Office. She instructed Ah Mao to stay behind to oversee the inventory of the Yu assets, while I led my men to the Outer City Judicial Office to demand their release. If necessary, I would even arrest Director Yu Bei; who knew if he was involved in the treason case.

The Imperial Guards had already heard reports of a gathering of protestors outside the Yu Residence. Three companies of Centurions arrived, but upon learning that the Eastern Depot was conducting an investigation, they withdrew. However, they also witnessed the Eastern Depot’s orderly formations and uniforms, as well as their powerful weaponry and the massive destruction they had wrought. In their hearts, they no longer dared to treat the Eastern Depot lightly—just as they no longer dared to hold any contempt for the mounted guards of the Imperial Horse Bureau in the past.