Chapter 36 - Trouble
The heavy rain lasted the entire night. Although the sky had brightened for a long time, there were still no signs of it letting up.
Fang Dingwu was startled from his sleep by a disturbance somewhere outside. He rubbed his temples with a frown, trying to ease a remnant of his hangover. He remembered drinking with Guo Xiaoliu until the early hours of the morning, but he couldn’t recall how he ended up in bed.
Outside, the heavy rain battered the eaves with a pattering sound, occasionally accompanied by distant arguing. He felt that it was likely an argument that arose from the sparring between the younger armed escorts.
Enduring the headache, Fang Dingwu sat up from bed, looking around for his clothes.
Crash—
Something had been smashed in the distance.
Fang Dingwu’s frown deepened at the youngsters these days. Not only were they up early making a racket, but they were also breaking things now. Putting on his clothes, he pushed open the door and went outside. He had a splitting headache, so he planned to brew some ginger tea in the kitchen.
Fang Dingwu held his clothes over his head and jogged to the kitchen. He was surprised to find that the usually bustling kitchen was completely empty.
"What's happening now?" Fang Dingwu muttered as he fiddled with the stove. While waiting for the water to boil, he found a leftover chicken leg from the night before and gnawed on it while steeping the ginger tea.
When the ginger tea was ready, he found a bowl to pour it into. Before he could enjoy a sip, another disturbance erupted, causing him to spill hot tea all over himself. This time, Fang Dingwu could clearly hear that the disturbance was coming from the front courtyard, and he was determined to check it out.
"Damn it. It just doesn’t end," Fang Dingwu cursed, picking up the ginger tea. He tossed his half-wet cloak over his head, and headed towards the front courtyard.
In the front courtyard, Master Wu was up against a group of people. They weren't any ordinary group people, they were government officials.
"Master Wu, I’ve left you some face here in Jiading Prefecture by keeping my men from using force…"
The leader of the group on the opposite side wore a uniform that identified him as a constable. He had his hand over his cutlass, and spoke with a sinister expression.
"…If Imperial Guardians come later, they won’t be as easy to talk to as I am."
"Ha! Constable Lu, you’re being too arrogant," Master Wu sneered. "Do you think my Changfeng Escort Agency is your backyard? It’s not somewhere you can enter at will!"
"Wu Changfeng! Are you really not going to give us any face? We are here with orders to arrest someone and have no intention of becoming enemies with your Changfeng Escort Agency. If you—"
Master Wu didn’t let Constable Lu finish and waved his hand to interrupt him.
"Who do you think you are? Why should I give you face?!" Master Wu demanded, "Scram back to where you came from!"
Constable Lu’s eyes widened with rage and he started to curse loudly, "Damn you…"
A figure suddenly appeared in his line of sight, and before he could see clearly, a bowl of steaming ginger tea splashed onto his head.
The two groups were originally standing under separate eaves at the front and rear of the courtyard. A figure unexpectedly darted out from the side gate and threw the bowl of ginger tea.
"Who the hell are you cursing at?!"
As Fang Dingwu came out from the side gate to investigate the commotion, he witnessed a constable cursing at Master Wu. Naturally, he threw the ginger tea he was holding at the constable without a second thought.
Scalded by the ginger tea, Constable Lu hopped about in pain, hissing as he drew in the cold air. The constables around him helped wipe hot tea and ginger slices from his head and face with their sleeves. The group of officials glared angrily at Fang Dingwu.
Fang Dingwu wasn’t polite either, his eyes as round as copper bells. He stared back and shouted, "What the hell are you looking at! Keep staring, I dare you! Watch me chop you to death!"
"Dingwu, don’t be reckless. Come back here," Master Wu finally spoke.
Constable Lu finally wiped off the ginger tea, but his face was now blotchy with burns. His red face burned with humiliation and rage.
"Your Changfeng Escort is going too far! Do you think you can get away with this? Just you people wait. We're leaving!"
With that, Constable Lu waved his hand and led the officials away.
Fang Dingwu’s cloak was now completely soaked. He took it off and draped it over his shoulders and then pompously walked over to Master Wu’s side.
"Hey, Master Wu."
"Hmm?" Master Wu gave him a sidelong glance. "Speak if you have something to say."
Fang Dingwu didn't make a fuss, he just rubbed the back of his head and asked, "Hey, I just want to know… what were those government dogs here for?"
"You want to know why, but I want to know why too."
Master Wu waved his sleeve dismissively.
"They say we are harboring fugitives and want to search our agency for them… Hmph, they're all false accusations. To me, they’re just looking for trouble."
"Fugitives?" Fang Dingwu’s pupils contracted, and an uneasy premonition seemed to grow in his mind.
"Hmm?" Master Wu frowned and asked, "Are you nervous?"
"Ha, haha… Not at all," Fang Dingwu chuckled nervously, waving his hands repeatedly.
Master Wu stared deeply into Fang Dingwu’s eyes. Nodding, Master Wu turned around and left, strolling away with his hands behind his back.
After Master Wu left, Fang Dingwu stood helplessly in place, subconsciously running his hands over his wet clothes.
Those officials were looking for Brother Ye! Fang Dingwu thought.
He calculated that Brother Ye had been gone for almost five days, and according to the schedule, he should be returning soon… No, he had to find a way to notify Brother Ye about the situation. It was best for him not to return and to escape quickly instead!
Having made his decision, Fang Dingwu began to act. He returned to his room to pack his things and prepared to set out. He gathered most of his savings from the past years, intending to give them to Ye Beizhi. With those funds, Ye Beizhi could escape far far away.
Fang Dingwu led a fast horse from the backyard, leaving quietly without informing anyone. He rushed out of the escort agency alone.
If Brother Ye and Chi Nanwei returned from Luzhou, they would likely take the official road. Fang Dingwu thought to himself as he rode swiftly toward the road.
***
The Capital City, Eastern Depot.
"Lord Eunuch, the Imperial Guardians have news about Stormqueller," a man in plain clothes with a sharp voice reported as he knelt in the hall.
"Hmm? When did this happen?" Eunuch Yue Yue Dou sat in his chair, stroking a white cat in his lap.
"Uh…" The kneeling man hesitated before mustering his courage and saying, "Based on the time we received the news, it should have been a day ago… and, and…" Sweat ran down his forehead.
"Hmm? And what?"
"And it’s said that among the Imperial Guardians sent this time, there were three Vice Commanders." Sweat dripped down the man’s face and onto the ground.
Eunuch Yue’s hand, which was stroking the cat’s back, tightened slightly, his nails digging into the white cat’s skin. The cat squirmed and meowed uncomfortably.
"Qi Zongbi…" Eunuch Yue growled deeply.
Eunuch Yue frowned as he stood up from his chair. The agile white cat landed on the ground.
"Is Qi Zongbi going crazy? The Imperial Guardians only have five Vice Commanders in total, and this time, they sent out three. Such a huge operation just to eliminate Stormqueller… Just what is he really trying to do?"
Eunuch Yue paced back and forth in the hall. Finally, he narrowed his eyes and said, "Send out my commands immediately. Send people to protect Stormqueller this instant, and then… find an appropriate time to tell him that the one after his life is actually the External Prime Minister!"
"Uh?" The kneeling man looked up in disbelief, "Lord Eunuch… are you trying to—"
Eunuch Yue spun around, his eyes as he stared at the man drenched in sweat. "What, don’t you understand what I’m saying?"
Sweat pooled around the man as he quickly lowered his head and replied, "I… I understand."
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