Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling were dumbstruck. It was half a day later that the former let out a cold air and said, "You, this kid, are indeed very well-informed.”
Xiang Yushan smiled and said, "Over the years, we, under different names, have opened more than two hundred pleasure houses and close to three hundred casinos, big and small, across the country, and hence have established a vast investigative network. Whatever matter we want to investigate, naturally it is relatively easier for us to do than other people.”
Xu Ziling said, "But I am afraid you won't get any information about Yuwen Clan by visiting brothel and playing in the casino!”
Xiang Yushan nodded, "That's a fact,” he simply said.
Kou Zhong knew that he was not going to speak up; greatly intrigued, he asked, "Why would you want to deal with Yuwen Huaji?”
Xiang Yushan's countenance showed grief and indignation; hanging his head low he said, "Fifteen days ago, our humble gang's Da Dangjia [first master] Lu Kangshou met the ‘shadow assassin' and lost his life. According to our investigation, the biggest suspect is someone from Yuwen Clan. We must avenge this enmity no matter what.”
The three people suddenly understood; no wonder he kept saying Er Dangjia Xiao Xian this and Er Dangjia Xiao Xian that. Turned out this matter involved some complex political power struggle, so naturally Xiang Yushan was unwilling to casually tell them.
Xiang Yushan said in low voice, "Our San Dangjia [third master] is leaning toward Yuwen Clan people. After the incident, Er Dangjia already sent our in-house law enforcement people to take care of him. We were also able to extract from his mouth the information that Yuwen Huaji and that incapable ruler are related to this matter.”
"That Yuwen Huaji really made a blunder this time!” Xu Ziling said, "He should have eliminated your precious gang's Er Dangjia as well.”
Xiang Yushan let out a cold snort and said, "Do you think he didn't think about that? It's just that they did not know the level of Xiao Er Dangjia's real skill. He has actually surpassed Da Dangjia early on, only it was kept a secret. Although the shadow assassin was formidable, he failed to take his life; furthermore, Er Dangjia pretended to be dead to lure San Dangjia to reveal his true colors. Otherwise, our gang would have fallen into Yuwen thieves and San Dangjia's hands early on.”
"Who was that shadow assassin?” Susu asked in wonder.
"That person's identity is still a mystery,” Xiang Yushan replied, "It is rumored that he is still very young, perhaps he belongs to the imperial family, specializing in assassinating those who are unpleasant to the fatuous monarch's eyes. His favorite is making his move in assassinating the target during full moons. Even Du Fuwei nearly suffered a major setback.”
The two boys let out a mouthful of cold air. If this assassin had the guts to target Du Fuwei, the level of his formidability should be easy to determine.
Xiang Yushan took out a letter from his bosom and said, "To show our humble gang's sincerity in proposing this collaboration, Xiao Er Dangjia specifically wrote a letter, in his letter he pledged a heavy oath that he won't be just like others who only want to exploit two gentlemen, but afterwards mean harm to you. After two gentlemen read this, you will understand, but please destroy this letter immediately.”
Kou Zhong received the letter, opened it and read. Sure enough, Xiao Xian put it in black and white that he swore a heavy oath; in addition, he put his personal seal on it. After passing the letter to Xu Ziling, Kou Zhong sighed and said, "Your Er Dangjia must be a powerful, capable and broad-minded man. Hey! Now he ought to be the Da Dangjia.”
"No!” Xiang Yushan replied, "He is still Er Dangjia. Unless that muddle-headed ruler is dead, he is unwilling to take the Da Dangjia position.”
Xu Ziling handed the letter over to Susu; he said in low voice, "What do you want us to do? Is it to hand the account book over to you? We can't do that!”
Xiang Yushan received the letter back from Susu; using his internal strength he rubbed it until it turned to powder, and then he said with a laugh, "Of course not. We will ask two gentlemen to kindly participate in this matter, enjoying the delight of watching that incapable ruler and Yuwen Clan fighting against each other. As soon as two gentlemen nod your head, I will immediately make arrangement for you. Hey! The three of you ought to leave this place in secret [orig. ‘gods do not know, ghosts do not detect'].”
And then he chuckled softly and said, "Shen Luoyan and two gentlemen don't get along too well!”
Susu was shocked. "We can't leave now,” she said, "We must wait for Laoye's return before we could leave.”
Surprisingly Xiang Yushan did not even ask why; he simply nodded and said, "So be it. Whenever you are ready to leave, just come to Daiqing Yuan [lit. ‘greenish-black mascara' courtyard] in here, and tell them you want to see Peipei, someone will definitely contact you, and will arrange everything.”
With a loud laughter he stood up, and cheerfully said, "When I first met two gentlemen, I already felt we are of kindred spirits, and now we have the opportunity to work together.”
And then facing Susu, he raised his cupped fist and said, "I do hope to see Miss very soon.” Finished speaking, he simply left.
The three of them ‘you look at me, I look at you'; momentarily they did not know what to say.
Although they had the account book in their possession, Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling were still hazy and did not have clear plan on how to actually used it to harm Yuwen Huaji. Now that this matter has turned for the better, they were happy, but were also anxious that it would not be as simple as Xiang Yushan said.
Seeing Susu's pretty eyes slightly blushed, Xu Ziling pondered a bit. Astounded, he said, "Does Su Jie like that guy?”
Susu was greatly displeased, "Stop talking nonsense!”
Kou Zhong said, "This guy is a world-class expert in patting the horse's bottom, the words that come out of his mouth, not even half a sentence will not make people happy, and when he sees something good, he knows how to get it at once. Coaxing girls, he is even more formidable. Su Jie must not fall into his trap.”
Susu was greatly embarrassed; standing up, she said, "You still want to stroll down the street?”
Whenever the two boys went, there would always be people spying on them, so they could not help feeling anxious for Xiang Yushan. But since this man possessed great magical power that he was able to find them under these circumstances, he must also have his own way to evade surveillance.
When they returned to the Big Boss Mansion, Tu Shufang berated them for going out without telling him first. The two boys humbly asked for forgiveness, hence this matter was dropped just like that.
The two boys started to examine the account book in details. They found out that the records were mainly on Li Clan and Yuwen Clan's arms acquisition from Dong Ming Pai: the type and quantity, the time and place of the delivery, and so on. The records were quite exhaustive, and most of the transactions happened in the last two years or so. If it fell into Yang Guang's hands, and he did not suspect that they were going to rebel, it would be strange indeed.
That night after dinner, the two boys had a secret meeting in Xu Ziling's room.
Xu Ziling probed, "Looks like for the time being we cannot go to Luoyang.”
"Going sooner or later is not the problem” Kou Zhong said, "If it is our destiny, we will obtain the treasure. After the Jade Annulus of He Clan is in our hands, we can head to Chang'an and try our luck to find the Duke Yang Treasure. If both are successful, we will recruit soldiers and buy horses. At that time, I want to see who would be able to strive against us, the Two Dragons of Yangzhou?”
Xu Ziling sighed, "You are thinking too far,” he said, "Right now I am worried about Su Jie. The scariest thing for me is that Baling Bang would abduct her and use her to threaten us. Don't look at right now that Xiang guy is taking our insult and our curses with a smiling face; just think about ever since we came out to travel around the country, from those who we met, how many are really good people?”
Kou Zhong also frowned. Right now Susu could be considered their only family, no matter what they could not let her be hurt.
"We have to be more careful,” Xu Ziling continued, "After avenging Niang, we'll bring Susu Jie to the south, find a place to settle her down, and only then can we think about any fun thing to do and how to earn a living.”
There was a knock on the door followed by Susu pushing the door open and storming in. "Miss is back. She wants to see you right away,” she said in panic.
The two boys groaned inwardly. What the fear the most right now was precisely to see this Big Miss of Zhai family, whose appearance and temperament were so ugly.
Zhai Jiao's face, which was as black as the bottom of an earthen pot, looked tense and jittery, her eyes flickered with cold rays; with one hand on her as-thick-as-a-chamber-pot waist and the other hand pointing at them, she cursed, "I was out for five days, and you are already rebelling. You have the cheek to sneak out and stroll around the entire day before coming back. If anything bad happened, how am I going to explain to Die? Now I have reported everything to Die, he said that no matter what you are not allowed to leave the Mansion for even half a step. Wait for his return and then we'll talk.”
Kou Zhong mused, ‘Wherever Laozi [I, your father] wants to go, it's none of your, this b1tch's, business.' But of course he did not dare to say it out loud. Smiling apologetically, he said, "It's our, two slave materials, fault; would Miss please calm down.”
Zhai Jiao pulled back her thick finger that was pointing at the two boys. She spoke harshly, "Other than Susu, does anybody else know about this matter?”
With a straight face and a voice full of incomparable confidence Kou Zhong replied, "Of course not.”
Xu Ziling added, "Since Miss has seen Da Longtou, you should know that we did not lie to you!”
With a hint of frustration in her voice, Zhai Jiao angrily said, "Die did not say anything, except that he will be home as soon as possible. He also commanded that this matter must be kept secret. I have already warned Susu, now I am warning you, these two slave materials.”
The two boys were already accustomed to her throwing a tantrum; hence they could only let her shouting and cursing.
Zhai Jiao vented her anger a while longer. But then she suddenly said, "Do you want women to accompany you for the night?”
"What?!?” the two boys' voice cracked.
Zhai Jiao's temper cooled down somewhat; her voice was softer as she said, "Die told me that you are free to pick any women you fancy among the maids to keep you company at night. And when he is back, there will be other rewards as well.”
Kou Zhong was very tempted, but then he remembered that if he did that, what would the difference between he and Wang Bodang be?
Xu Ziling resolutely refused, "Thank you for Da Longtou's good intention, but we two brothers definitely cannot accept it.”
As if relieved from a burden, Zhai Jiao said, "You don't want it, that is the best. Who would want to accompany you, two little demons anyway?”
The two boys were infuriated, but they had no choice but to keep silent.
After staring hard at the two boys for quite a while, Zhai Jiao told them to get lost. As if they had just received the emperor's amnesty, they hastily slipped away.