Joy of Life

“Report.”

The carriage stopped at a place only two streets away from the Suzhou government. The Tiger Guards kept an alert out for nearby movements. An Overwatch Council spy wearing common clothing stood closer. After his token was verified, he leaned close to the window in the carriage and spoke in a quiet voice.

In the carriage, Fan Xian was holding something and looking at it closely. He nodded and said, “Speak.”

“The Ming Garden didn’t offer any resistance. The people of the Fourth Bureau have already entered and are currently searching. For now, there haven’t been any results.”

Fan Xian was silent for a moment then said, “Use appropriate force, tell Deng Zi Yue not to be too aggressive.”

The spy made a sound of acknowledgement. He turned and left the carriage, disappearing into the morning crowd in Suzhou.

The carriage slowly began to move again. It had gone half a street toward the Suzhou government when another Overwatch Council spy flashed out from a corner of the street and approached the side of the carriage. They lowered their voice and reported, “No strange movements at the docks.”

Fan Xian was silent and did not speak. He waved his hand and had the person leave.

To get from Hua Garden to the Suzhou government, they had to cross almost half of city. Along the way, the carriage advanced silently and did not draw the attention of too many people. Most of the people in Suzhou did not know that early this morning, the Overwatch Council officials had already charged aggressively into Ming Garden.

In this distance, the crows that the Overwatch Council had moved at the last minute began to report on information from all quarters. All information relating to the Ming family’s reaction was gathered in this moving carriage.

The situation in Ming Garden, the situation of the Ming family’s merchants opening shop like usual, and the response of the governor’s manor, all of this was sent at the quickest speed to the carriage to be handed to Fan Xian for him to consider holistically.

Today, this carriage was the Overwatch Council’s headquarters.

Fan Xian also felt something was strange. Even if the Ming family feigned weakness, they could not allow themselves to be bullied without any sign of a response. To the contrary, it was the governor’s yamen that started to tense up. There were already thoughts of mobilizing the military.

In today’s plan, seeing the Ming family’s reaction was one part, but capturing Zhou was the most important part.

Ming Garden had been under the Overwatch Council’s constant and strict surveillance. Zhou shouldn’t have had an opportunity to escape. Most importantly, up until now, the Ming family shouldn’t have known that the Overwatch Council had the information of Zhou hiding in Ming Garden.

Fan Xian couldn’t stop a trace of a self-deprecating smile from rising to the corner of his mouth. For the big clans and families in this world, if they were attacked by outsiders, they were always like centipedes and would not die in an instant. If their internal problems were incited, then they would face true difficulties. These words were said by Cao Xueqin in “A Dream of the Red Mansions.” He was having this feeling now because Zhou’s hiding place was told to Fan Xian through some channel by someone in the Ming family, someone very powerful in the Ming family.

Otherwise, given the strict defenses of Ming Garden how could they know so certainly that Zhou was there? The Overwatch Council, over a dozen years, still had not succeeded in planting a high-level spy.

As long as Zhou was in Ming Garden, then today’s matter could be considered successful.

...

...

The carriage slowly drove toward the Suzhou government. More Overwatch Council spies came forward to report various pieces of information. When there were no more peculiarities, the carriage burrowed into an unremarkable little alley. Close to a thick wall, the carriage stopped for some unknown reason.

About three meters to the left of the Suzhou government was the jail holding criminals. The prison executed people in the autumn and fed them in the spring. It now was the time when the population was most prosperous. In a single prison, it held 40 to 50 people.

Through the metal doors of the prison and to the end of the path, there was some light splashing through the skylight that carried warmth. It dispersed some of the dampness. Compared to the other cells that did not see the sky or the sun, it was much more comfortable.

This cell had a layer of straw on the ground. Below it, something forbidden, like a cotton blanket, could faintly be seen. A pale-faced middle-aged man was drinking alone, enjoying the treatment not afforded to usual prisoners.

This was the Fourth master of the Ming family. Because the Overwatch Council wanted to defeat the Ming family, he became the first sacrifice that was offered. He was forced into the Suzhou government. It had already been over 10 days, yet there was still no indication of him being let out. However, the Ming family was still a large family with great power. The Suzhou government had practically been supported by them, so there was someone taking care of everything while he stayed there. His days could be considered quite comfortable. There were some infamous bandits in the cell beside his who all looked at him with envious gazes.

The Fourth Ming master couldn’t be bothered to acknowledge those petty thieves. He only slanted his eyes to look at the three bailiffs outside of his cell door. A slight mocking smile appeared at the corners of his mouth. “What’s happening today?”

The bailiff opened the cell door with a bang and a bailiff bowed. With a flattering smile, he said, “Fourth master, it’s been hard on you these days. However, the Overwatch Council keeps a tight watch, so we can’t move you to a single cell.”

The Fourth Ming master shook his head and sighed. “The matter at hand is to be able to get out of here as quickly as possible. Has there been no word from the family?”

At this time, two other bailiffs had already brought in good food and alcohol and laid it out in front of him. The fragrance washed over their senses.

The Fourth Ming master was confused. It was not yet time for lunch, why were they bringing food so early? Suddenly, he thought of something and couldn’t stop his expression changing dramatically. In a hoarse voice, he asked, “What does this mean?”

“After this meal, it’s best to be on your way.” The bailiff sighed.

The Fourth Ming master’s face was deathly white. He couldn’t quite believe his own ears. At most he was forcefully dominating the market. How could it be a capital offense? Besides, he was of the Ming family. How could the government dare to kill him so casually? He unconsciously backed away and stared at the bailiff with hatred. Viciously, he said, “What you said, I don’t understand.”

The bailiff lowered his head and said, “It’s the intention of the Overwatch Council. Please don’t blame me.”

The Fourth Ming master was not a stupid person. After a moment of thought, he understood the matter from beginning to end. He was silent for a moment then laughed mournfully. “What Overwatch Council? It’s probably the family that wants to kill me.”

The bailiff straightened and lowered his voice. “Since Fourth master already understands, then don’t take it too much to heart. It’s for the good of the family...the Overwatch Council is forcing the family hard right now. Rumors say that they already entered the Ming Garden this morning. If nothing is done and trouble not stirred up, how could the Overwatch Council be willing to draw back their hand? You’re the Fourth master. It is worth it to use your life to temporarily ensure half a year of peace and safety for the family.”

The Fourth Ming master cursed in a rage, “Those sons of b*tches! If they need someone to die, why don’t they have the old matriarch die? F*ck her ancestors!”

Having reached the moment of life and death, he understood why the Ming family would send someone to kill him. This was certainly not to silence him. He did not know anything about the core of the family business. This was a stain to be smeared onto the Overwatch Council’s face. Since the Ming family had decided on the battle plan of feigning weakness and tragedy last year, they needed the death of the Fourth master of the Ming family to be the explosive turning point.

Thinking of this, his heart was unbearably hopeless, unhappy, and angry.

The bailiff’s expression changed.”The old matriarch is the protector of tens of thousands of families, Fourth master’s words should be more respectful.”

The Fourth Ming master smiled miserably. He backed toward the corner and cursed continuously. “I am also a master of the Ming family. Why should it be me who has to die? Just because I’m not her trueborn?”

At this moment, two bailiffs had already walked to the Fourth Ming master’s side. They completely ignored the Fourth master’s cursing and resistance. Taking out a scrap of dirty cloth, they stuffed it into his mouth blocking his obscenities. At the same time, they tied his hands behind his back.

By this time, the noise in the room had already alarmed all of the prison. Many prisoners were looking curiously and fearfully towards this direction.

The lead bailiff furrowed his brows and yelled, “The Overwatch Council is conducting business. Silence, all of you!”

Even though they were locked in prison, these prisoners knew that, currently, the Overwatch Council was suppressing the Ming family. However, no one thought that the Overwatch Council could come into the prison to secretly kill the Fourth master. They couldn’t stop a chill running through them, and they gradually felt a sense of injustice for the Ming family, but no one dared to look in that direction again. They were terrified of bringing trouble on themselves.

...

...

The bailiff looked at the plate of food in front of him and shook his head. He sighed in regret and said, “You couldn’t even eat your last meal. It’s truly been hard on you.”

After saying this, he waved his hand. The two bailiffs who had caught the Fourth master slipped a noose around his neck.

The Fourth master’s neck was pulled tight, and his face turned a bright red. His two feet scrabbled against the floor and kicked up the straw dirtying the blanket underneath.

The rope became tighter and tighter. The Fourth Ming master’s eyes seemed like they were about to pop out. His nostrils flared wide, and he appeared strangely horrifying. The strength of his kicks became weaker and weaker, like a dying frog, he struggled weakly and without strength.

It was easy to imagine the hopelessness in the heart of the Fourth Ming master who was about to die. It was easy to imagine the hatred and resentment he felt toward that old woman of the Ming family and Ming Qingda. However, he was about to die, what could he do?

The bailiff coldly watching the dying Fourth Master suddenly felt strange. His gaze slanted toward the cell next door and saw that the prisoner was looking at him. He looked at the bailiff coldly. Not like he was coldly watching the ruckus, but rather his face was completely expressionless.

He suddenly turned and saw that the prisoner had removed something from the pile of straw and was aiming it at him.

It was a crossbow.

Thunk! Thunk! Thunk! The crossbow rang out three times, and three bolts flew out. They accurately pierced the throats of the three bailiffs. Their hands flew to their throats, but they didn’t have time to make a single sound before they fell to the floor. Their legs kicked a few times, and then they died.

Once the bailiff died, the rope loosened. The originally dying Fourth Master kicked weakly and gradually recovered his strength.

He slowly opened his eyes and looked at the prisoner in the cell beside his with a dazed and blurry gaze. He didn’t know why the other party saved him, and he didn’t see clearly how the other party saved him.

The other prisoner was acting like he had done nothing. His eyes stared flatly into the distance as he squatted beside the bars.

The Fourth Ming master’s entire body was sore and rubbery. He had also soiled his pants, and the stench was unbearable, however, he knew had just had a narrow escape.

Suddenly, the thick wall behind him seemed to have been moved by spirits. A gash quietly opened up and revealed the deep blue sky outside.

...

...

Gao Da withdrew his large knife. His face was slightly pale, forcing his way through the thick walls of the Suzhou government prison had drained a lot of his zhenqi. He entered the cell, picked up the Fourth Ming master with one hand and left again.

Another official of the Overwatch Council entered and pulled out the bolts from the three bailiff’s throat. He carefully arranged the scene inside the cell, then he walked to the bars and extended his hand.

The prisoner that had saved the Fourth Ming master earlier did not say anything. He handed the Overwatch Council official the secret crossbow in his hand, then he pointed to the lunch box to the side. The Overwatch Council official picked up a drumstick and placed it in his hand. The prisoner smiled and looked somewhat pleased.

The Overwatch Council official lowered his voice and said, “Wait another two months, Sir still needs you to be a witness.”

The prisoner nodded as he munched on the drumstick.

Not long after the Overwatch Council official left, the prisoner flicked what was left of the drumstick into a cell across from him. Suddenly his expression changed and he cried hoarsely with distress and terror, “Help! Help! Someone is killing and escaping!”

...

...

The carriage left the little alley behind the Suzhou government and slowly drove to where the governor’s manor was. However, there was now an extra person in the carriage.

The Fourth Ming master lay distressed and terrified under the chair in the carriage. He raised his head to gaze at the young and handsome figure, and couldn’t speak for some time.

Fan Xian shook his head and sighed. “Indeed, the large and wealthy families are not very dark.”

Shortly after, he smiled slightly and said, “Naturally, you already understand, so I will not need to say much. You need to have a good grasp on the Ming family of the future and work well with Seventh Ming.”

The Fourth Ming master swallowed. The scene of his narrow escape from death had been too much for his state of mind and did not allow him any consideration of the offer before he nodded his head fiercely.

Fan Xian quietly said, “The old matriarch wants to kill you but she fell into my Overwatch Council. She made it known to the public and created for me a shameless and cold-blooded appearance. She wanted to incite the public’s emotions to protect the Ming family...however, now that I have rescued you, instead the dirt is on the Ming family. To say that the Ming family broke into a prison...how do you think she will respond?”

The Fourth Ming master’s eyes were empty. He shook his head. Enduring the pain in his throat he hoarsely said, “Sir...don’t underestimate that old...that old whore.”