Back in Flying Fish County, Sun Dasheng was already famous for fighting without regard for his own life. Now that Flying Fish County had fallen and they were forced to retreat to Shuangcheng, he had to return to his old ways just to earn a living. To gain influence in Shuangcheng's underworld, he needed to make a name for himself in one decisive battle. This way, other factions wouldn't look down on them, and the Feiyu Gang could use this reputation to recruit more underlings and reopen their halls.

The fight in the private room just now had seen both sides go all out. Although Sun Dasheng and his men were outnumbered three to four, their successful sneak attack had instantly disabled three opponents, meaning their overall strength was not weaker than the Four Heroes of the East City. While the Four Heroes were fierce, having been caught completely off guard, they were battered and bruised, significantly reducing their fighting capacity; overall, they had suffered a major loss.

When the Imperial Guards dragged the seven men out of the private room, the Four Heroes were still reeling. The one hit by the wine jar casually threw a punch at an Imperial Guard.

"Damn it, daring to fight on our Four Heroes' turf—you've had enough of living!"

That Imperial Guard was furious. The status of the Shuangcheng Imperial Guards was extremely high; in the eyes of these commoners, they were the law, they were heaven itself. And yet, someone dared to strike heaven—was this rebellion? It was important to remember that the Imperial Guards were responsible for patrolling the city, authorized to use force to suppress any unrest they discovered, meaning their power generally surpassed that of the Judicial Division.

"You dare hit me? Brothers, teach them a lesson first, then send them to the Judicial Division!" the Imperial Guard ordered his comrades. Having eaten and lived together for so long, their bond was naturally stronger than that of ordinary men. Seeing their companion insulted, they all converged forward.

Sun Dasheng was a reckless sort, but the scholar, Old Six, was sharp and quick-witted; otherwise, he wouldn't have secured the role of strategist for the Feiyu Gang. Back in Flying Fish County, they only needed to guard against the yamen runners. Now, facing a troop of soldiers clad in armor, the strategist Old Six knew they wouldn't be easy to provoke. So, he pulled Sun Dasheng and the Shorty closer, shrinking into a corner. For the moment, those men were ganging up on the one-eyed man, so no one paid attention to this side. If it weren't for the guard stationed at the door, they would have bolted already.

Sun Dasheng wiped the soup residue from his face, then picked a large shrimp from his neck and tossed it into his mouth. Chewing, he said, "Old Six, what are you afraid of? At most, they'll lock us up for a few days, which will only help build the Feiyu Gang's reputation."

Old Six replied, "Boss, these soldiers aren't ordinary yamen runners; they are Imperial Guards. They hold immense power. We should avoid provoking them."

Sun Dasheng was about to boast a bit more when he looked up and saw over a dozen Imperial Guards surrounding the impulsive one-eyed man, beating him mercilessly. He immediately shut his mouth. These guys were clearly trying to beat him to death—nothing like the yamen runners in Flying Fish County, where a few kicks or slashes would suffice. Big cities definitely had different rules. It seemed their earlier actions had been too reckless. They needed to figure out an escape plan quickly.

Shi Qing, leading his sister Shi Shuang forward, approached Sun Dasheng and said, "Thank you. If it weren't for you, Master's lamp would have been snatched away."

Seeing the beauty, Sun Dasheng grinned.

"No need to thank us. We weren't trying to help you specifically. But from now on, this area falls under the jurisdiction of us Three Tigers of Feiyu. If you ever need anything, just let us know, pay your protection fee, and we'll handle it perfectly."

Shi Qing couldn't help but let out a snort of laughter. It turned out the people who saved them were gangsters. However, these gangsters seemed much more honest and good-natured than the Four Heroes. Still, demanding protection money from people associated with the Zhao residence was a joke that had gone too far.

Even Steward Miao beside them couldn't help but interject to Sun Dasheng, "You little scamp, do you have any idea who these two young ladies are?" He hadn't known earlier that three servants of the Zhao residence were sitting in the private room; otherwise, he would have rushed in to save them. But it was truly strange—why would Master Zhao's three servants be eating seafood here when the Master was away? Based on Steward Miao’s understanding of Old Fu and the Shi sisters, they were not the sort to abuse their connections for personal gain.

Shi Qing smiled, completely captivating Sun Dasheng, so he didn't even register Steward Miao’s scolding.

"I don't know. They must be young ladies from a wealthy family. So gentle and beautiful—not like the girls from Flying Fish County."

Shi Qing was afraid that Steward Miao speaking too much would drag his Master into it, as his surreptitious return to Shuangcheng was highly confidential, and the Master had strictly ordered the three servants not to disclose even a hint of the news. Hearing this, Shi Qing anxiously signaled Steward Miao with his eyes, subtly waving his hand to indicate he should stop talking.

Although Steward Miao couldn't fully grasp Shi Qing's intention, he managed to figure out the gist: Shi Qing didn't want to reveal the name of Director Zhao carelessly, fearing it could provide ammunition for other ministers to impeach him. However, having made such a grand statement, he couldn't back down now; that would cause him to lose face.

Thinking again, Steward Miao addressed Sun Dasheng, "Out of respect for you helping them just now, I will tell you: these two young ladies are the younger sisters of Director Shi Lei of the Imperial Stables, who is also Director Shi Shan's sister. Director Shi has repeatedly performed meritorious service while accompanying Director Zhao of the Imperial Stables on campaigns against the rebels in the west. He has now been promoted to commander of the Siege Battalion and is a favorite of Director Zhao. Those Four Heroes of the East City didn't know their background; offending these two young ladies means offending the entire Imperial Stables. Don't worry, they won't have a good end."

Sun Dasheng replied, "Though we don't know who you're talking about, it seems we saved the right people now. Since the Four Heroes of the East City are doomed, our Feiyu Gang will take over their territory. If the Imperial Stables ever need help, just give us a shout; we'll look out for each other. As the saying goes, rely on your parents at home and friends when you go out."

Steward Miao spat disdainfully, "You have quite the big talk, boy. Do you even know who the director of the Imperial Stables is, that you want to help them? That's a joke."

The scholar Old Six stepped in front of Sun Dasheng to address Steward Miao. "Esteemed Sir, our boss was merely joking casually. We drifted into Shuangcheng as refugees and truly don't understand the customs here. We ask for your forgiveness if we have offended you."

Steward Miao softened slightly. "That's more like it. To tell you the truth, I am the steward of the Imperial Stables' kitchen, equivalent in rank to a Battalion Commander. Our director is Lord Zhao Qian. He currently serves concurrently as the commanding marshal of the court's bandit suppression army, the Chief Enforcer of the Eastern Depot, and holds several other posts. For the Imperial Stables to need help and protection from men like you—isn't that the biggest joke?"

Sun Dasheng blurted out, "Zhao Qian? Is that Doctor Zhao from Flying Fish County?"

Steward Miao said, "It seems you aren't entirely ignorant. Indeed, the director of our Imperial Stables is the miraculous Doctor Zhao who brings the dead back to life."

Sun Dasheng was stunned. "It's really Brother Zhao Qian? Has he become this powerful now? It looks like we came to the right place. With him covering for us, are we still afraid of starving?"

Although the Four Heroes of the East City didn't have a good reputation, the four of them always stuck together. The one-eyed man was nearly beaten to death by the Imperial Guards, so the remaining three naturally couldn't just stand by. Even though the lighting in the seafood restaurant was dim, the three could still make out the armor of the Imperial Guards. The one-eyed man had only been dazed by the blow; the other three didn't dare act as rashly as he had. Instead, they stepped forward to mediate.

"Gentlemen Guards, stop fighting. We are friends with Battalion Commander Xu, who manages this area, and we’ve dined with Centurion Lu as well. It was our brother's fault for being blind just now. Please stop; if he dies, you won't be able to explain it to Commander Xu. Also, we know the stout Chief Enforcer of the Eastern Depot—give us some face."

The Imperial Guards had vented their anger and didn't dare to cause a death. Moreover, the three heroes brought up Stout Hai, the Third Chief Enforcer of the Eastern Depot. Recalling that two Eastern Depot runners had entered earlier, the Imperial Guards exchanged glances and grumblingly stopped their attack. The leader among them said, "Consider this a lesson for offending the Imperial Guards. On account of Centurion Lu and Commander Xu, we won't press the issue. If we see you causing trouble again, we'll send you directly to the Judicial Division for severe handling—even if you know the Emperor, it won't matter."

Seeing that the opposing side was numerous and were Imperial Guards, the Four Heroes of the East City dared not say a word and listened silently. Although the Four Heroes wished the Imperial Guards would arrest the three men who fought them, they felt the loss was unjust because they had never met those three. However, since the one-eyed man had offended the Imperial Guards, raising such a request now seemed inappropriate. Furthermore, the Four Heroes were trying to snatch two miraculous lamps; if the Imperial Guards found out, they might just take them too, rendering the beating they just took pointless. Thus, they needed to find another way.

Since it was just a common brawl, a situation the patrolling Imperial Guards encountered daily, and neither party raised further objections, the matter was considered settled. The corporal leading the Imperial Guards turned and asked the guard at the door, "Where are the two Eastern Depot runners who came in earlier?"

The guarding Imperial Guard reported, "Reporting to Corporal Sun, upon hearing we were on official duty, they went to the backyard, saying they were also here on orders from higher up."

Corporal Sun gathered his men and said quietly, "Since it doesn't concern us, let's hurry and leave. We already hit someone, and if the Eastern Depot people see it, it might cause trouble. It's not worth getting targeted by the Eastern Depot over a few thugs. Besides, those fellows even claimed to know the Stout Chief Enforcer. Let's drop this matter."

All the Imperial Guards knew that the Eastern Depot not only spied on the Emperor but also monitored military discipline. If this fight were written up in a secret report to the Emperor, the Guard Commander might severely punish them. Thus, they loudly gathered their composure and marched off to continue their patrol. As for investigating the reason for the fight, that was the Judicial Division's job. But since the Imperial Guards had participated in the fighting, they certainly wouldn't report the incident to the Central City Judicial Division—why invite trouble for themselves?

The one-eyed man must have suffered internal injuries, as he kept spitting up bloody foam, scaring the ordinary patrons into surging outside. Once the crowd dispersed, the four couldn't find the so-called Three Tigers of Feiyu anymore. Moreover, even if they found them now, it was uncertain if they were still a match for them. Under these circumstances, trying to snatch the two lamps seemed almost impossible.

Taking advantage of the chaos, the four conferred briefly and decided that two men would escort the one-eyed man to a clinic for treatment, while the other two would secretly lurk outside the seafood restaurant, waiting for the two young ones and the old man to appear. Then, under the cover of night, they would snatch their belongings and flee. With such miraculous lamps, wouldn't they surely gain the appreciation of Grand Tutor Pang if they presented them? With Grand Tutor Pang's favor, they wouldn't need to fear the Judicial Division or the Imperial Guards.

From what the 'hairy-faced Thunder God' said, Steward Miao inferred that he and Director Zhao were likely friends, and the relationship seemed quite close. He was keen to ask a few more questions and try to foster a connection. When he turned around, he saw the Four Heroes of the East City leaving the seafood restaurant. Steward Miao asked Old Fu beside him, "Old Fu, why did the Imperial Guards let them go? They dared to try and rob Director Zhao's property—how outrageous! They must be severely punished. You certainly didn't declare the name of the Zhao residence of the Imperial Stables, did you?"

Old Fu replied, "Steward Miao, perhaps we should let it go. They didn't get the items anyway. And I heard those four mention that they seemed to know the Imperial Guard officers quite well. Let's not cause more trouble for the Master over this matter. When he left, he repeatedly instructed us to keep a low profile in all our actions."

Steward Miao glanced at Shi Qing and Shi Shuang, who were helping clean the wounds of Sun Dasheng and his two companions. "Old Fu is right. All the officials in the court are watching Director Zhao. As the Director often tells us, 'People fear notoriety as much as pigs fear growing fat.' You all carry on. Don't let these three leave; I'll treat them to a meal later. I wonder if the chaos inside affected the vegetable cart left outside. I'll go check."

Ten miscellaneous servants were waiting outside the seafood restaurant with wooden carts loaded with vegetables procured by the Imperial Stables. Steward Miao wasn't worried about the vegetables at all; he couldn't swallow the humiliation from earlier. What were the Four Heroes of the East City? Just scum and street thugs. Yet, such people dared to attack members of the Zhao residence, and while the Imperial Guards beat them, they still let them go. In short, the Imperial Stables had been disadvantaged, and as a member of the Imperial Stables, he absolutely would not allow this to happen.

"Brothers, did any of you notice four blood-soaked men leaving just now?" Steward Miao asked the ten servants.

The servants replied, "Yes, Steward. Was there a fight inside? We were worried you might want to go in and see."

Steward Miao said, "That's right, there was a fight. Do you know who those four offended?"

The servants shook their heads. "It was noisy inside; we couldn't clearly hear what happened outside."

Steward Miao's tone grew heavy. "Our Imperial Stables were bullied, stepped on by four ruffians! They were blind to target the Shi sisters and tried to steal our Director's divine lamps. But because those Imperial Guards have connections with them, they didn't arrest the men. Brothers, what should we do?"

Because of the continuous stream of good news from the front lines, the people of the Imperial Stables were united, everyone taking pride in working there. Anyone in Shuangcheng who mentioned the Imperial Stables gave a thumbs-up of praise. Now, someone dared to act like this—it was a direct trampling of the Imperial Stables' dignity.

"Beat them!" the ten servants exclaimed in unison.

"Damn it, daring to eye our two beloved goddesses—they've really had enough of living!"

Steward Miao declared, "Exactly! That's what I think too. Although we don't have the authority to arrest them, we don't have to let them go either. We'll follow them and let them taste a little pain. But everyone, don't bring trouble onto the Imperial Stables, lest some shortsighted official hears about this and pins the blame on Director Zhao."

One servant suggested, "Steward, we can follow them stealthily. Since they are injured, they won't get far. We can strike them from behind and leave. Who would know it was us? If we don't vent this anger, we won't have the face to ask for lodging at the Zhao residence tonight. Shi Qing and Shi Shuang are always so warm to us; how could we men stand by and do nothing?"

Another added, "I think we should beat up those Imperial Guards too! How dare they let go of men who offended the Imperial Stables?"

Steward Miao shook his head regarding the guards. "Let's leave the Imperial Guards for now. They probably didn't know the identities of Old Fu and the Shi sisters, and those four brought up Stout Hai, the Third Chief Enforcer of the Eastern Depot, to pressure them."

"Nonsense!" the group chorused. "The big boss of the Eastern Depot is our Director Zhao; are we afraid of Stout Hai?"

Steward Miao cautioned, "Of course we aren't afraid, but let's forget about the Imperial Guards for now. If we delay any longer, those four will be far away. Leave two to guard the vegetable cart, and the rest of you cover your faces and follow me. Quick action is needed. There are a few of Director Zhao's old friends in the seafood restaurant whom I invited for drinks later."

The Four Heroes of the East City stealthily followed behind, making sure the Imperial Guards were indeed far enough away not to return. The one with the handlebar mustache said to the one-eyed man, "Brother Ji, you go get treated at the clinic with peace of mind. We will definitely get the divine lamp. Once we secure a connection with Grand Tutor Pang, we won't have to fight for scraps anymore. Damn those three bastards, they are utterly despicable! My head feels like it's splitting open."

The one-eyed man spat out another mouthful of blood. "Then I'll have to rely on you two brothers. It would be best if you could beat those three to death; otherwise, I won't be able to swallow this insult. Since the Four Heroes of the East City debuted, when have we ever taken such humiliation?"

The handlebar mustache swore, "Don't worry, Brother Ji. They left their names. Once we have the lamps, we'll deal with them. Three upstarts daring to fight us—if we don't crush them, we aren't the Four Heroes of the East City!"

The one-eyed man coughed twice and spat out more foamy blood. "Good! I really can't hold on much longer. You two hurry and keep an eye on that old man and two young ones. If they escape, it will be trouble; in this vast sea of people, who knows where they live?"

The four had initially huddled together, discussing in low voices. Suddenly, they heard hurried footsteps approaching from behind. The Four Heroes, being injured, had slow reactions. By the time they stood up and turned around, a large sack was pulled over the one-eyed man's head, followed by a flurry of brutal blows. The attackers made no sound and even carried clubs. With their heads covered, the four couldn't resist and endured nearly ten minutes of relentless beating until all four men in the sacks stopped moving, at which point the attackers quietly withdrew and vanished.

After an unknown period, the handlebar mustache finally regained some sensation; his entire body felt like it was burning. He strained to pull the sack off his head and then proceeded to check the other three. Fortunately, two other sacks stirred back to life. However, the last sack, the one covering the one-eyed man, showed no response no matter how much he shouted.

The handlebar mustache tentatively placed his hand under the one-eyed man's nose and cried out, "Bad news! Brother Ji is dead!"

The other two, who had been cursing the hidden attackers and their ancestors, froze. Those attackers had been too ruthless. Without asking for explanation or reason, they had beaten a man to death right away.

In truth, it wasn't entirely the attackers' fault. At the force they used, they should have only inflicted severe injuries, meaning his life shouldn't have been in danger. The only mistake was that the one-eyed man already had internal injuries and had coughed up a bowl of fresh blood; he couldn't possibly withstand that second beating, so he kicked the bucket on the spot.

After a moment of silence, one man asked, "Brother Hu, what do we do? Brother Ji was beaten to death, and we don't even know who attacked us. If we want revenge, who do we look for?"

The handlebar mustache gritted his teeth. "Who else could it be? It must be those Three Tigers of Feiyu from before. We'll go back and find them!"

One man countered, "Do you think they'll still be waiting at the seafood restaurant?"

The handlebar mustache declared, "Even if they aren't at the seafood restaurant, we'll go cause a huge disturbance there! Brother Ji can't have died for nothing. Let's go, carry his corpse. We need to settle this score with the seafood restaurant as well."

Even when a brother died, they still thought of exploiting the body for profit—that was shrewd enough. The Four Heroes of the East City were inherently vicious. Although they were saddened and found the sudden death of their long-time brother hard to accept, they quickly recovered. The dead cannot return to life; the living must continue to make a living.

The man carrying the corpse remarked, "Brother Hu, rumor has it there's a dark-skinned beauty in the seafood restaurant, the one with the perpetually exposed cleavage, and some people have seen her sexy legs. Should we bring her out and use her for something?"

The handlebar mustache sneered, "Shuangcheng is full of Yellow people; dark-skinned people only exist in the Jin Kingdom. A foreign woman opening a restaurant here in Shuangcheng cannot be simple. We will consider that matter after we avenge Brother Ji. Otherwise, we might fall into her trap."

The other man carrying the body said, "Brother Hu, this won't work. The three of us are half-dead. How can we be a match for them? We need to find help, or if we provoke the Imperial Guards again, how can we expect to survive?"

The handlebar mustache nodded. "That's right. Haven't we recently gotten in with the timid Prince? It seems we have to ask him to step in. Then, you two tell him about the dark-skinned beauty a few more times, and promise him one of the divine lamps. I don't believe he won't be tempted."

The two men carrying the body agreed, "With a treasure and a beauty to tempt him, how could that cowardly Prince refuse to get involved? Brother Hu, your scheme is no less cunning than Brother Ji's. From now on, we brothers will follow your lead."

When Steward Miao returned to the seafood restaurant after finishing his business, Sun Dasheng and the other two had already bandaged their wounds. Due to the earlier commotion, most of the restaurant's patrons had fled, unaffected only were those dining in the private rooms upstairs, who continued sipping their wine and savoring the unprecedented seafood feast.

Although business had suffered greatly, Consul Huang paid it little mind, as the two Eastern Depot runners had gone straight into the backyard to search everywhere. They seemed to have a definite target, paying close attention to the area where the dark-skinned girl had been staying. A faint fragrance still lingered in the room, sending a jolt of alarm through Consul Huang's senses.

“Gentlemen, what are you looking for? If you require anything, just give the word and I shall promptly prepare it. Your silent searching is quite unnerving; we are merely honest, law-abiding merchants.”

The older of the depot guards replied, “Who is the owner here? We merely wish to investigate a matter.”

Consul Huang said, “Sir, our owner is usually not at home. You know about the recent bandit unrest in Liuyang; he is trapped there and cannot return. Alas, in these turbulent times, conducting even a simple trade is difficult.”

The guard cut him off, “Stop these complaints. The imperial court has issued a proclamation; the bandit situation in Liuyang will soon be quelled. I ask you, someone reported the appearance of a dark-skinned woman here. Where is she? Have her come out to face our investigation.”

Consul Huang’s face flushed with indignation,

“What? That is utterly untrue! How could we have a dark-skinned woman here? People of dark complexion are only found in the Jin Kingdom. When have people from the Jin Kingdom ever appeared in our Shuangcheng Nation? Not even in the slave markets!”

The guard pressed, “Don’t play games with me. The information we received is absolutely solid. We are here politely today to seek clarification. If you do not cooperate with our duties, we can immediately summon a large contingent of depot guards, and when we find the person here in your establishment, let’s see how you explain it then.”

Consul Huang pleaded, “Sirs, there is no dark-skinned person here, so what can I explain? Someone must be framing our establishment. I know they are jealous of our business, so they are resorting to vicious tricks to tarnish our reputation. I beg the two gentlemen to investigate and do justice for this humble man.”

The guard retorted, “Stop your howling. The Imperial Guards stationed at the Inner City Tower also saw a dark figure appear in the backyard from their vantage point. I ask you one more time: are you handing the person over or not? We only wish to question her about a few things; we have no intention of arresting or killing her. However, if you conceal her and fail to report, the nature of this matter changes entirely.”

A flicker of panic crossed Consul Huang’s eyes, though it vanished instantly.

“Sirs, I have already told you there are no people from the Jin Kingdom here. If you do not believe me, please search for yourselves.”

The two depot runners surveyed the area, seemingly finding no immediate flaws. One said, “Very well. Since you insist, we will have to return to the Eastern Depot to fetch more men. If we find her when we return, the charge will be treason!”

Sun Dasheng, hearing that Steward Miao intended to treat them to a meal, certainly would not refuse. This meant there was no need for him to dine on the house to assert dominance. Moreover, having subdued the Four Heroes earlier, the news would spread throughout the Central City’s underworld by tomorrow, making their future actions much more convenient.

The four of them sat at one table. Shi Qing, Shi Shuang, and Butler Fu were supposed to wait for the master upstairs to finish eating, but Steward Miao insisted on pulling them to sit together. During their conversation, he inquired about their reason for being there. Shi Qing attempted to deflect by saying she was treating her sister and Butler Fu to a birthday meal.

Steward Miao was quite displeased to hear this excuse.

“Miss Qing, we have known each other for quite some time. How could you not inform Elder Brother Miao about an important event like your birthday? We have often stayed at the Zhao Manor, disturbing you countless times. Every time, you treated us with such warmth. I have long sought an opportunity to repay you properly, but today’s time is too rushed; I haven’t had time to purchase a gift.”

Shi Qing replied, “Elder Brother Miao, inviting us to dinner is already a great expense for you. The birthdays of us servants are not important; I only decided to dine here to make my sister a little happier.”

Sun Dasheng noticed Steward Miao harbored some feelings for the young woman. He addressed Steward Miao, “Listen, even though you are treating us to a meal, I am not grateful for your gesture. Don’t think a single meal can make me relinquish my admiration for this young lady.”

Shi Qing’s face immediately flushed crimson. How could this hairy-faced, thunder-browed fellow speak so bluntly? Steward Miao seemed unwilling to discuss such sensitive topics in this setting. He said, “What is this brother’s name? From your words just now, are you an old acquaintance of Lord Zhao of the Imperial Stable?”

Sun Dasheng downed a large gulp of wine, his mouth full to the brim.

“Naturally. Did you think I was falsely claiming acquaintance? In a moment, you can take me to meet Brother Zhao Qian. We were mortal friends in Feiyu County; he once saved my life. I admire him to the core. We even fought bandits together back then—it was exhilarating! We chased over five hundred bandits until they fled in disarray…”

Steward Miao knew this claim couldn't be false upon hearing it. He secretly congratulated himself for finding an opportunity to get close to his immediate superior, thus he flattered Sun Dasheng profusely in his speech. For a time, the group conversed cheerfully until the Man with the Moustache led another throng into the seafood restaurant.

“Well, look who is all here. That saves us some trouble.” Two of the Four Heroes shouted, while the Man with the Moustache maintained a facade of composure before the young princes, remaining silent.

Dan Shi had been browsing the night market with a group of princes from the Inner Eight Clans when he was forcibly dragged here. Ever since his little fish, Xiao Yu’er, was taken into the inner city by the Emperor, his life had lost its savor. Although his father, Cholesterol, had done his best to please him by procuring a bevy of beauties, his excessive lust only made his complexion worse, and his already weak body became even more frail.

Suddenly spotting the Shi sisters, Dan Shi’s eyes lit up. Such delicate and beautiful girls were rare; only Xiao Yu’er could compare to them. Of course, Xiao Yu’er’s bust was undoubtedly the finest spectacle in Shuangcheng, whereas these two girls were far flatter.

The accompanying young princes were all of lower status than Dan Shi, so they followed his lead. Dan Shi murmured, “What fine, delicate young things,” and the others responded with lewd laughter.

Steward Miao suddenly felt a deep pang of regret. If he had known the Eastern City Four Heroes would be so persistent, he should have secretly ended their lives earlier. Now that several young princes had arrived, what was he to do? He feared the prestige of the Imperial Stable might not be enough to subdue them.

When Sun Dasheng’s trio saw the three Eastern City Heroes preparing to fight by grabbing stools, Steward Miao knew he had to reveal the identities of Shi Qing and her companions, lest these lecherous young princes do something outrageous.

“Insolent fools! Do you know who these three are?”

Dan Shi and the others spared Steward Miao a couple of surprised glances. They didn't seem to recognize this formidable figure. Was this arrogant fellow perhaps Grand Tutor Pang’s newly adopted godson?

Steward Miao pulled Butler Fu forward, presenting him to Dan Shi and the others. “This is Butler Fu from the Zhao Manor. These two young ladies are Lord Zhao’s personal maids. Are you looking to bully them because Lord Zhao is away suppressing bandits? There is an imperial announcement: Lord Zhao is already en route back to the capital, where the Emperor and the Crown Prince will personally escort him ten li out of the city. If you have the audacity, laugh a few more times, and let’s hear it.”

Currently, the one least offensive in the Shuangcheng Nation was Lord Zhao of the Imperial Stable. Although his authority did not surpass that of Grand Tutor Pang, everyone knew he was a distinguished guest of the Pang household, skilled in military strategy, adept at defeating the strong with the weak, and capable of rapidly growing his forces during conflict—a rare prodigy in the Shuangcheng Nation after a millennium.

The other young princes were frightened upon hearing this, but Dan Shi recalled that it was because of this Zhao Qian that he had lost Xiao Yu’er. Even his father had to be cautious of Zhao Qian’s power. However, these two girls were merely his servants, and moreover, the combined strength of the Inner Eight Clans’ Royal Party was considerable now. This time, he absolutely could not afford to be defeated by him. If word got out that a group of young princes had been scared off by an old man and two girls, the loss of face would be unbearable.

Yet, Dan Shi had also become more strategic since losing Xiao Yu’er. The Man with the Moustache whispered a few words in his ear, then pointed at Sun Dasheng and his two companions. Dan Shi’s brow furrowed, and he shouted to the household guards behind him, “Men! First, arrest those three troublemakers. As for these four, escort them all to the Judicial Division for questioning!”

Steward Miao erupted in anger,

“Though you are the sons of the Inner Eight Clans, Lord Zhao is not someone you can trifle with. If you know what’s good for you, leave quickly, or be warned that our Lord will not be polite to you.”

Dan Shi chuckled, “A prince committing a crime is judged the same as a commoner. Even the Emperor would have to abide by this. It is standard procedure to send relevant witnesses to the Judicial Division for inquiry. Does Zhao Qian possess the privilege to stand above the law? Furthermore, these are merely servants of the Zhao Manor; they could never expect to enjoy special privileges.”

The other young princes, reminded by Dan Shi, also grew spirited. Why should Zhao Qian monopolize all the good fortune? Today, they would make him realize that the Inner Eight Clans were not to be trifled with easily. These young noblemen constantly socialized together, and Dan Shi’s hatred for Zhao Qian had already infected the others.

Dan Shi, bolstered by the support and encouragement of the other princes, signaled the remaining three of the Eastern City Heroes to step forward and seize the treasure, the Divine Lamp. The Eastern City Three rejoiced and started moving forward to grab the emergency lamp, when suddenly, synchronized footsteps echoed from outside the door, followed by squadrons of Flying Fish Garb guards, armed with bows and swords, entering in single file. Instantly, everyone in the hall froze, not daring to make a rash move.

It was the Man with the Moustache who first recognized Fat Hai, the Third Lieutenant, flanked by numerous depot guards.

“Lieutenant Fat, why is it you? What is the purpose of such a grand deployment today?”

Fat Hai had dined with the Man with the Moustache and his group once before and had used them to extract intelligence, as people of the marketplace often held the most accurate information.

“Moustache? Why are you here? And what is this about this large contingent?”

The Man with the Moustache quickly embroidered and distorted the events with excessive detail. Steward Miao, hearing this, burst out angrily, “You are spouting nonsense! Clearly, you intended to seize Lord Zhao’s Divine Lamp, yet you dare to twist the truth here!”

Fat Hai, who did not know the purchasing agent of the Imperial Stable, demanded of Steward Miao, “What did you say?”

Steward Miao pointed at the three individuals, “These three are Lord Zhao’s butler and maids. Lieutenant Fat, you know where the truth lies.”

Fat Hai was greatly shocked. The First Lieutenant was a mild-mannered man who never ranked himself by status or position against subordinates, and Zhao Manor’s two maids were exceptionally beautiful. They might very well be the First Lieutenant’s beloved women. These young princes and thugs dared to offend them—they must be tired of living! However, the most pressing matter now was investigating the Jin Kingdom woman.

“Men, secure all of them first. After the search is complete, bring them back to the Eastern Depot!” Fat Hai’s expression shifted as he commanded the Centurion behind him.

The young princes finally understood. The head of the Eastern Depot was the master of the Zhao Manor. Dan Shi had been blind indeed to dare covet them. Realizing this, the young princes one by one backed away from the vicinity of the Eastern City Three Heroes, until even Dan Shi stepped aside. Fat Hai knew that the young princes were not easy to provoke, but these three ruffians were inconsequential. Therefore, he ordered the Centurion to tie up the Eastern City Three Heroes first. As for the young noblemen, they could only be handled this way for now; since they hadn't committed any overt acts, arbitrarily arresting them would surely earn him a scolding from the Second Lieutenant.

The Man with the Moustache never expected things to turn out this way. Just moments ago, they had been joking that the two women were Lieutenant Fat’s mistresses, only to realize they had insulted the maids of the Eastern Depot’s chief. This time, they had truly run into the wrong people. Simply surviving would be a blessing. The three desperately shouted for mercy toward Lieutenant Fat, until several depot guards stuffed rags into their mouths to silence their cries.

The young princes knew that the Eastern Depot was absolutely not to be offended; if they were truly fixated on gathering evidence against them, few could escape the Emperor’s punishment. Therefore, they all approached Lieutenant Fat with ingratiating smiles to make conversation.

Fat Hai said impatiently, “We are going to search the seafood restaurant. Someone reported that a Jin Kingdom national is hidden here. Your Highnesses, please remain in the main hall and do not move until our search is complete, after which everyone may depart.”

The young princes eagerly offered, “We will accompany you. Assisting the nation by searching for spies is also part of our duty.”

Jing Lue suddenly pushed open the door to the private room and entered anxiously, “Your Highness the Crown Prince, Lord Zhao, this is not good! There are Eastern Depot runners searching outside. Normally, we wouldn’t pay the Eastern Depot any mind, but for some unknown reason, several young masters from the Inner Eight Clans are accompanying them.”

Ma Xiaoda worriedly exclaimed, “Ah, you absolutely cannot be seen by Lord Pang’s men, or they will surely impeach you! Even if they don’t impeach you, word will leak out, and other ministers will speak ill of you before Your Majesty.”

I pushed open the window, “I will hide for a moment, to avoid the trouble of explaining myself if I am discovered.”

Linglong said, “That is the backyard. Master, I will carry you down.”

Ma Xiaoda conceded, “Alright, you two hide yourselves first. The Eastern Depot are our own people, so it doesn’t matter much. I will go out and handle those few useless sons of the Inner Eight Clans.”

Linglong carried me and jumped into the backyard. Then I heard Dan Shi’s voice accompanying several Flying Fish Garb guards as they entered the backyard. Fortunately, in the darkness, they did not immediately notice the presence of others hidden there. Linglong quietly peered over the top of the wall, looking out at the street filled with Eastern Depot runners. Although they were allies, if they hadn't been notified beforehand, seeing the two suddenly would certainly elicit loud shouts, which would be disastrous if the young princes noticed.

I pointed to a slightly open doorway, “I will hide inside this room. You have superior lightness skill; find a way to conceal yourself.”

Linglong replied, “Why bother with such trouble? I might as well reveal myself and let them say what they will.”

I insisted, “It is better to avoid trouble than to invite it. Quickly, separate and hide. We will meet again in the courtyard after they leave.”

As soon as I entered the room, men holding torches began searching room by room. Furthermore, Dan Shi’s roaring voice was intermittently heard. This fellow is my enemy; we have become mortal enemies because of Cai Jingjing. If he discovered me, I fear he would not rest until he killed me to silence me.

Listening to the sounds drawing closer outside, I continuously shrank into a corner, pressing against the wall. Suddenly, the floor beneath my foot loosened, and a floorboard flipped over. I tumbled headfirst into the resulting opening. As my head disappeared into the ground, the floorboard snapped back into place as if nothing had happened.

The pit was not deep. In the darkness, I felt myself land on a soft, yielding mass, followed by a sharp, pained cry. Then I heard the voices of Dan Shi and the Eastern Depot runners inside the room.