Chapter Sixteen: A Nighttime Visit to the Governor’s Residence

Zhou Qian and Wang Hu hurried over, finding Li Sanshan being hoisted into the air by a burly man in a blue robe, his legs flailing helplessly and his face twisted with terror. Upon seeing Zhou and Wang, Li Sanshan was overjoyed and called out, “Brother Zhou! Brother Li! Save me!”

“What’s going on?” Gong Yi asked with a frown.

“Reporting to Constable Gong, this fellow was acting suspiciously, hiding behind a tree for some unknown reason. Just to be safe, I apprehended him,” the big man replied respectfully, bowing low.

“He’s lying! I just needed to relieve myself, so I went behind the tree, and this brute grabbed me out of nowhere. I almost soiled my pants! As the old saying goes, ‘Will you police even control a man’s need to answer nature’s call?’” Young Master Li protested with indignation.

“Release him!” Gong Yi ordered with a wave of his hand, and the burly man obeyed.

“Though you are disciples of the renowned Hundred-Armed Sword Immortal, Master Zhou, there are still laws of the land and rules of the house. Investigating crimes and catching murderers are the duties of the authorities, not a stage for three youngsters like you to play the hero!” Gong Yi’s gaze was cold as he looked at the three, then turned away, leaving no doubt that he saw them as greenhorns, full of passion but lacking in sense.

Clearly unwelcome and unable to help, the three had no choice but to leave, somewhat dejected.

On the way, Zhou Qian recounted the mortician’s words and Gong Yi’s response. Both companions agreed that it seemed highly possible.

“If it’s as the mortician said, then isn’t Constable Gong’s behavior rather odd?” Wang Hu wondered aloud.

“What’s so odd about it? It’s just officials covering for each other. That guy’s no good, you can tell!” Li Sanshan replied angrily.

“Could it be that Constable Gong is the traitor among the officers?” Zhou Qian suddenly speculated.

Wang Hu and Li Sanshan exchanged glances. Li Sanshan struck his fist into his palm and exclaimed, delighted, “That must be it! Gong Yi and that Deputy Admiral Ma San are both moles for the bandits within the court. I heard at the Qiantang yamen that the Divine Machine Battalion advanced by water, switching to land halfway. Ma San, as Deputy Admiral of the Qiantang Navy, would know precisely when and where the battalion came ashore, and Gong Yi, as a Six Doors Constable, could cover his tracks. It all fits perfectly!”

“You’re jumping to conclusions!” Wang Hu shook his head. “Never mind why a high-ranking Deputy Admiral would stoop to collude with bandits, but Gong Yi, as a Six Doors Constable, was likely assigned directly from the capital and has no connection to the bandits.”

“What you say sounds more reasonable than Second Brother’s theory,” Zhou Qian said.

“What do you know, Third Brother?” Li Sanshan dismissed. “There must be huge benefits involved. Perhaps it all leads back to that universally beloved Brother Coin.”

“And guess what I found at the scene of the fight?” Li Sanshan suddenly said, lowering his voice conspiratorially.

“What?” the other two asked in unison.

Li Sanshan produced a jade pendant. Its craftsmanship and quality were exquisite, but the most striking feature was the large character “Zhao” engraved upon it.

“This was in the hand of one of the dead constables, who died clutching it tightly. Clearly, the pendant was not his, but taken from the murderer!” Li Sanshan said gravely.

“It’s a clue, but rather a broad one. There must be countless people surnamed Zhao in the world!” Wang Hu frowned.

“That’s not all. The constable’s body bore two wounds—one to the chest, one to the right arm—both knife wounds, the cuts deepening from right to left. Third Brother, do you see what I’m saying?”

“So we’re looking for a left-handed swordsman surnamed Zhao!” Zhou Qian concluded.

The three looked at each other, but even so, they didn’t know where to begin.

“Let’s return to the inn and report our findings to Master Zhou. With his experience, he’ll surely know what to do,” Wang Hu suggested prudently.

Without delay, they hurried back to the inn and told Zhou Xun of their investigation. Zhou Xun closed his eyes in thought for a while before replying, “Since the matter is entrusted to you, you must figure it out yourselves. I will not interfere.”

All three wore troubled expressions. Now, the one with the most ability had washed his hands of the matter—

“If the old man trusts us with this, then we must do it well! We can’t let people look down on us three brothers!” Li Sanshan declared, gritting his teeth.

Wang Hu, Li Sanshan, and Zhou Qian had all struggled for a living since childhood; hardship had forged in them an indomitable spirit. If no one would help, they’d help themselves. The three put their heads together and, after much discussion, really did come up with some ideas.

“This jade pendant is of fine make and feel—certainly not a cheap piece. Second Brother, you go ask around the local jewelry shops! Third Brother and I will look into Deputy Admiral Ma’s background in the marketplace. Let’s meet at the hour of the Rabbit and decide our next move!” Wang Hu instructed.

By dusk, they reconvened at the inn, all wearing cheerful expressions.

“How did it go?” they asked each other simultaneously, then laughed at the coincidence.

“Let me go first!” Li Sanshan said eagerly. “I disguised myself and visited several jewelry shops. The shopkeepers all said only Lei Mazi of Li Alley could craft such work. I pretended to have found the pendant and asked Lei Mazi, and he was easily tricked into telling me it was custom-made half a year ago by Zhao Yuan, the steward of Deputy Admiral Ma San. The quality of the white jade made it memorable! I told you Ma San was suspicious! What did you two find?”

Zhou Qian and Li Sanshan exchanged a look. Zhou Qian spoke, “Elder Brother and I asked around the taverns and teahouses. Turns out Ma San is a remarkable figure in Qiantang. Originally a local ruffian, he somehow acquired excellent martial skills, changed his ways, and became a hero, defeating several notorious gangs single-handed. He gained a name in both the underworld and among the authorities, was noticed by Admiral Liang Guang and made his personal guard, and over the next few years made great contributions suppressing river pirates, rising to Deputy Admiral. Many say he’ll inherit the Admiral’s post when Liang Guang retires.”

“Zhao Yuan is Ma San’s steward. If Zhao Yuan is a bandit, Ma San can’t escape suspicion. Tonight, let’s sneak into the Admiral’s mansion and see what sort of man Ma San really is!” Li Sanshan said, rubbing his hands together in excitement.

“Shouldn’t we inform Master Zhou first?” Wang Hu asked cautiously.

“Our master told us to handle it ourselves—let’s surprise him!” Zhou Qian replied, equally excited.

Wang Hu gave a wry smile. Of the three brothers, Li Sanshan was the cunning one, but it was usually the quiet Zhou Qian who most relished adventure.

It was a dark and windy night—the perfect time for mischief and murder. When gentlemen of the beam came out to play—

Three young men, faces wrapped in black scarves and dressed in black, slipped over the outer wall of the Admiral’s mansion. One of them hesitated atop the wall, too scared to jump down, until the burliest of the trio gave him a shove that sent him tumbling.

“Elder Brother, you’re too rough!” Li Sanshan wailed.

They crept along the wall’s edge. Li Sanshan whispered, “Zhao Yuan may be the head steward, but he’s still a servant. No reason for him to live with the master. If we follow the servants, we should find Zhao Yuan’s quarters.”

The moon was already up. The servants, like all people, needed rest and drifted in small groups toward the eastern corridor. At Li Sanshan’s signal, the three followed stealthily. The servants walked through the corridor, around the pond, and after many twists and turns, reached a side courtyard in the northeast, each entering their rooms and dispersing.

The three searched the area for a while before Wang Hu, sharp-eyed, spotted a small courtyard behind an artificial hill—unadorned but tasteful. It was too remote for the master’s family, too fine for common servants, making its owner obvious.

It was their first time as thieves—perhaps with the exception of Second Brother Li—but they all felt the same nervousness. Zhou Qian carefully tested the door and was surprised to find it unlocked. With a gentle push, it swung open. The three exchanged glances, a hint of surprise in their eyes. Had Zhao Yuan merely forgotten to lock up? Or was it intentional? Or had someone beaten them to it?

“We’re already here, are we going to be scared off by an ‘empty city ruse’?” Zhou Qian gritted his teeth and entered first. Wang Hu and Li Sanshan quickly followed.

At the door, Wang Hu signaled to Li Sanshan, who nodded and took a blowpipe from his breast, poking a small hole in the window. A faint white smoke drifted inside.

It was a rare and peculiar knockout smoke, colorless and odorless—worth at least fifty taels of silver an ounce on the black market. Yet this particular blend was made by Young Master Li himself.

In the past six months, while Zhou Qian and Wang Hu devoted themselves to martial arts, Li Sanshan, bored, had stumbled upon the “Lu Family Medical Canon” given to Zhou Qian by Zhou Xun. He’d treated it as a treasure, immersing himself in its study, especially fascinated by the less reputable arts of medicinal smokes and poisons. If the benevolent old Lu who authored the manual knew, he’d probably be so enraged as to cough blood.

After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Li Sanshan judged the smoke had taken effect. He signaled to the others, and they crept inside.

The room was pitch dark. Unable to see, Li Sanshan fumbled for a fire-striker and lit it. The moment the flame flickered to life, a fierce gust of wind from a fist came crashing toward them!