The Longest Day in Chang’an: A Race Against Time - Chapter 49

Chapter 49: Shen Zheng (16:00-16:59) Part 8
Translator: DragonRider
Wang Yunxiu was stunned. No one had ever talked to her like this. Yuan zai violently put his hand over her mouth to stop her from breaking out, “Do you wanna get out of here alive and stand before you father again?” In a daze for a second, Wang Yunxiu immediately nodded. And Yuan Zai loosened his hand, said seriously, “You’re in extreme danger, only I can help you out, do you understand? Repeat what I said!”

How could Wang Yunxiu be willing to listen, she shook her head vigorously. Yuan Zai sneered and stood up, pretending to leave. She quickly said with fear, “Hold on, please!” Yuan Zai came back and looked at her coldly, speechless. For fear of missing the last chance, Wang Yunxiu managed to repeat it in a low voice, “Only you can help me out….” the last note was slightly high, full of doubt.

Yuan Zai was inwardly relieved. To deal with Princess Wang Yunxiu, the only way was to toughly knock her back. Now that she agreed to repeat what he had said, showing the strategy had begun to work.

He clasped the hemp pit in his fingers and put it in her mouth again, “Listen, next you must give absolute obedience to me. One violation, I’ll leave at once. Nod your heard if you agree.”

Wan Yunxiu had no choice but to agree.

“Don’t worry. You won’t be hurt anymore since you meet me today.” Yuan Zai asserted.

After so much suffering, her spirit nearly collapsed, and such sudden words were no less than the sound of nature that stopped her body from shivering. She vaguely felt that the man spoke in an authoritative tone like her father, very tough, yet with deep concern.

After calming her down, Yuan Zai stood up to pull the door open, coming across Feng Dalun coming in. Yuan Zai stopped him with sulky face, “Principal Feng, we’re in trouble.”

Feng Dalun stood still, puzzled. Yuan Zai turned sideways, “Look, is that Wen Ran?” Feng Dalun’s face fell the time he carefully looked forward. The woman lied in the room was nothing like Wen Ran. Yuan Zai said, “Look again, carefully.”

Familiar with luxury, Feng Dalun recognized the unusual silver flower dian and nanmu zan when glancing over her, his face turned deathly pale. Yuan Zai made a sign for him to get out. Feng Dalun hurriedly exited room and shut the door.

A few young loafers came over, but were kicked down by Feng Dalun one by one. These fucking idiots must have lost Wen Ran on the way, and kidnapped a woman without even knowing who she was instead! He was about to ask them for details, but were interrupted by Yuan Zai’s grim voice, “Principal Feng, leave them alone. We should think about how to remedy it.”

With sweat gathering on his forehead, Feng Dalun explained hastily, “I’m gonna ask her what happened and let her go.”

“If you do it, there will be hell to pay.”

Being a clever man, Feng Dalun knew right away the stakes with just a little guidance from Yuan Zai. Mercy and forgiveness were never known to those dignitaries in Chang’an. Once Feng let her off, he would be under immediate siege from her private guards. The King of Yong was cold by nature that it was impossible to expect him to come to his rescue.

With Zhang Xiaojing remaining at large in front and aggressive dignitary behind, Feng Dalun felt it was so bad today.

“What about…killing her?” Feng Dalun blurted out the idea flashing in his mind. Yuan Zai gave him a sympathetic look, “This gang boss is an official of rank nine, anyway. Why does he think in the way of a gangster?”

He patted Feng Dalun on shoulder, “Bro Feng, don’t be rash, it’s exactly infeasible to kill her. I get another idea of killing two birds with one stone, which not only can get rid of Zhang Xiaojing as you wish, but also send this hot potato out without worries.” He squinted, looking enigmatic.

Yuan Zai had decided to seize this chance to play a big game. If he played well, it would be the biggest opportunity for his career right so far.

As if grasping at straws, Feng Dalun was overjoyed, “Bro Yuan, could you teach me how to do!” Yuan Zai said, “Before that, you must tell me the truth about the last case of Zhang Xiaojing without hiding anything.”

“Eh….Bro Yuan, are you sure everything will be ok?”

“…Won’t be disappointed.” Yuan Zai laughed with confidence.

Feng Dalun didn’t notice Yuan Zai dropped the subject.

Zhang Xiaojing, Tan Qi, and Yao Ru’neng rushed back to Guangde Fang after leaving the imperial city. Confused, they didn’t say a word all the way.

As the Lantern Show drew near, the festive atmosphere on the streets was very strong. The scene of the conflict that had just occurred at the corner of the Huaiyuan Street, Guangde Fang, had been cleaned up, and was occupied by several Kucha actors now. The sonore konghou and pipa attracted a crowd of cheerful spectators. The recent riot only briefly interrupted the residents’ interest, like a dot of ink falling into the water, immediately diluted to nothing.

They walked cross the crowd, just arrived in Guangde Fang at the gate and saw Xu Bin leaning against the flagpole beside the gate and looking this way. Xu Bin was so surprised to see Zhang Xiaojing that he rushed over to hold Zhang’s arms, and the folds on his face were nearly shook off in excitement.

The information that they left imperial city had obviously came to Jing’an Department. Xu Bin didn’t hesitate to run out to meet his old friend.

Zhang Xiaojing slapped his good friend vigorously on the shoulder, “Old Xu, you don’t need to come out greeting me at gate.” Xu Bin gestured with his forefinger to lips, “Shhhh! I’m waiting for you. Eh… come with me.”

He looked mysterious as if there was something secret to discuss. Yao Ru’neng said, “I’ll take Miss Tan back first, you can have a private talk.” Xu Bin shook his head, “You come along too, eh…!” Realizing that he had said something wrong, he slapped his head, checked himself immediately and hurried them up.

Zhang Xiaojing grabbed Xu’s sleeves on the way, “Youde, please tell me, have you found Wang Yunxiu?”He had always worrying about Wen Ran, who had been mistaken for Wang Yunxiu, kidnapped by the Turks and still missing. Xu Bin shook his head, said that Sicheng Li had listed it as a top priority and Jing’an Department had mobilized a large number of elites to search for her, but there was still no good news up to.

“Nor bad news. They never found a body.” Xu Bin had to comfort him.

Besides the court of Jingzhao Office, there were temples such as the Temple of Great Mercy, Changfa Temple and Shengguang Temple distributed in the four corners of Guangde Fang, which was, as it were, surrounded by Buddhism. Several turns later, Xu Bin finally led them to the Temple of Great Mercy in northeast of the Tenth Street.

There’s a story behind the Temple of Great Mercy. At the end of the Sui Dynasty, a western monk named Tan Xian distributed food to the poor here every day. Later, Emperor Gaozu established Tang Dynasty and was impressed by his kindness, built this temple named “Mercy” for him. The temples opening all the year round and food distribution during festivals always attracted the poor to gather at the gate.

Today was the Lantern Festival, so the Temple of Great Mercy would hand out routine maigre Youzi (vegetable oil fried dough). This snack, typical in Chang’an for the Lantern Festival, was made from wet flour rolled in to ball, then fried in oil, smelling well. Many residents had waited here early, and several reception monks stood on the steps maintaining orders, temporarily preventing visitors from coming in. When the first monk saw Xu Bin, he announced a Buddha number and let him in without questioning. Zhang Xiaojing suddenly understood that Xu Bin was not on the spur of the moment, but had already prepared for it.

They passed through the temple gate, crossed the bell and drum tower, and circled from the west side of the Shakya ManiHall to the side courtyard. Next to the lotus Free Life Pond connected to the canal, there was a simple Buddhist thatched cottage. Behind the cottage there was a quiet lotus-tree wood, in which green bricks and low walls were vaguely visible.

Zhang Xiaojing calculated the position and found that the other side of the wall should be the hall of Jing’an Department. That was old house of Sun Simiao, separated by a wall with the Temple of Great Mercy.

It was so strange that Xu Bin took such a circle. What did he want to do?

Xu Bin didn’t explain, but kept bending over to urge them to hurry up. Approaching a thatched cottage, they saw a man standing by the Free Life Pond, hands on back.

“Master.”

The first to recognize him was Tan Qi. Her eyes moistened with grievances. Soon she held back the tears, surprised to find that Li Bi had become another person in only an hour: pale face, bloodshot eyes, more wrinkles between the eyebrows, as if carved with a knife, deep and long.

His appearance was probably nothing more than that of Wu Zixu, whose hairs turned white overnight. Tan Qi knew that there were much pressure on master, but what kind of pressure could get him that bad in such a short time? Sad, she was about to ask him. Li Bi raised his hand motioning her to be quiet, and then turned to Zhang Xiaojing,

“How could Gan Shoucheng let you go?”

After hearing Zhang Xiaojing describe the scene, Li Bi narrowed his eyes, “Commandant Zhang, you are indeed five-honored Yama, even dare to burn up the court of Youxiao Guard (Right Courageous Guard).”

Zhang Xiaojing smiled, “It’s far to repay the imperial court’s kindness to me.”

The playboy’s words bordered upon rebellion. Tan Qi looked seriously at Master Li Bi, but he said nothing, just waved several people in. Tan Qi felt the Master seemed to be a little lax and weak in edge, as if just experienced a very tough ordeal.

There were a cushion, several futons and a cane shelf laying a number of Buddhist Scriptures in the thatched cottage. In the middle of the room stood a three-stage water clock, which appeared to be new and blocked right a statue of Buddha Lochana.

They silently knelt down, waiting for Li Bi’s explanation.

Li Bi stood with his hands on back outside the window, managing to turn away from the sight of others, “I just visited Gan Shoucheng and made a bet with him. If you are still within the city gate when he returns to the Bureau, you will be at his disposal; or he can’t pursue you even you have taken one step out.”

Zhang Xiaojing understood that it had to do with the detention document. Since there was no clear name for the offender in the document, it became a double-edged sword: Youxiao Guards could deny arresting someone; however, if the prisoner escaped, they couldn’t pursue.

The dividing line happened to be the city gate guarded by Youxiao Guards. Within the gate, YouXiao Guards had the final say; Out of the gate, none of their business.

However, Gan Shoucheng was a difficult man to deal with. How could he want to please Li Linfu and yet be willing to make such a bet with Jing’an Department?