Chapter 168: Interrogation
A true expert reveals their skill at first move!
The alleys surrounding Shi Family Alley were all straight and narrow. Though connected by small lanes, they lacked the complex terrain and diverse residents of Four Happiness Alley. With limited manpower, Fu Tingyun had no choice but to divide the search parties into groups, scouring one alley after another. However, once Yang Yucheng took charge, he immediately expanded the search radius to seven or eight surrounding alleys. He stationed his men at designated intersections with strict orders:
"...No matter what happens, hold your positions. Stop anyone trying to leave. If you see someone who looks like a beggar, apprehend them immediately. If someone appears well-dressed, inform me at once—politely detain them until I arrive." Then he turned to A Sen: "You're in charge of this operation."
A Sen straightened his back and responded with a resounding "Yes!"
His fervor made it seem as if they were back in the old days, battling the Feng family for territory.
Yang Yucheng nodded in approval before addressing Zheng San: "We'll carry torches and comb through each alley while loudly announcing that a thief has broken into our home, stolen valuables, and injured someone. Warn the residents to secure their doors and call for our help if they encounter any strangers. If they can't handle it, they should drive the intruder out. That bastard is highly skilled—don’t engage him directly."
Zheng San’s eyes gleamed with admiration. "This way, everyone will be on high alert. Even if they don’t help us catch him, they won’t shelter him either."
"Exactly!" Yang Yucheng grinned. "Once Jin Yuanbao’s men arrive, we can conduct a thorough search. And even if someone finds him first, knowing how dangerous he is, they’ll likely notify us. Even if they capture him themselves, no one will believe the word of a thief."
"Precisely," Zheng San agreed. He fashioned two makeshift torches by soaking old clothes in cooking oil, then joined Yang Yucheng in shouting warnings through the alleys.
Yu Wei followed closely behind. First, she was the only one who could identify Zuo Junjie if he was caught. Second, the mere thought of Zuo Junjie lurking nearby agitated her—she needed to stay active, or she feared she might lose her mind.
The commotion roused the residents of the surrounding alleys. The sounds of chairs being dragged to barricade doors echoed through the night. Some households lit lanterns, inspecting their premises multiple times before finally illuminating the lanterns under their eaves, settling into uneasy vigilance.
With the added light, hiding places grew scarce.
Jin Yuanbao arrived with a dozen night-patrolling soldiers. After reorganizing their forces, they split up to conduct a meticulous search.
Fu Tingyun gazed into the oppressive darkness, her heart uneasy.
What if Zuo Junjie escaped again this time?
Hadn’t he already left the capital? Was their information wrong, or had he doubled back?
Knowing they were hunting him, why would he return? How had he ended up in this area? And why was he disguised as a destitute scholar?
The questions swirled in her mind until she froze.
At Tanzhe Temple, he had been dressed as a beggar. How had he transformed into a scholar in just half a year?
What had happened to him during that time?
And what about her uncle and aunt—did they know about Zuo Junjie’s situation? Had he contacted her cousin-in-law?A flurry of thoughts raced through Fu Tingyun's mind, her expression growing solemn.
Beside her, Zhang Taitai offered comfort: "Man proposes, God disposes. Everyone is helping with the search—why don't you rest in your room for a while? They'll report to you immediately once he's found."
Fu Tingyun understood this well.
Like Yu Wei, she felt restless unless she was doing something at such a time.
"Thank you," Fu Tingyun smiled gratefully at Zhang Taitai. "But that item is too important to me—how could I possibly sit still..."
Before she could finish, shouts erupted: "Found him! We found him!"
Fu Tingyun's face lit up with joy, and Zhang Taitai shared her happiness, taking her hand. "Come, let's go see!"
Though this wasn't the time for spectating, Zhang Taitai had stood with her for so long that Fu Tingyun couldn't refuse.
She'd have to improvise when the time came.
With an inward sigh, Fu Tingyun followed Zhang Taitai toward the gathering torches.
"Let me go! Release me!" From afar, Zuo Junjie's shouts reached them. As they drew closer, they saw a tall, gaunt man pinned to the ground by four or five burly men, struggling desperately in disarray. "I didn't steal anything! You've got the wrong man! I'm a scholar with honors... That shrew Fu Tingyun framed me—"
The moment "Fu Tingyun" left his lips, Yang Yucheng yanked off his shoe. Before Zuo Junjie could finish his accusation, Yang Yucheng crouched down, seized his hair, and stuffed his own stinking sock into Zuo Junjie's mouth. Then he asked Yu Wei, "Is it him?"
Years of longing finally fulfilled, Yu Wei's eyes shimmered with tears.
"It's him!" she cried excitedly. "It's really him!"
"Good!" Yang Yucheng muttered, standing up and lightly dusting off his robe as if he'd touched something filthy. With a grin, he explained to the crowd, "This scoundrel is incorrigible—if he bites his tongue, we'd be blamed for extracting a confession under duress. Better to gag him now so we can hand him over properly when the authorities arrive!"
Handsome and charismatic, his half-teasing, half-mocking tone carried an effortless charm that endeared him to onlookers.
The crowd laughed.
Yang Yucheng called out loudly, "Thank you, neighbors! The thief's been caught—you can all rest easy now!" He then cupped his hands in a salute. "For troubling you all with my elder brother's affairs, don't leave yet! I'm treating everyone to drinks at Donglai Shun by the street entrance—do me the honor. My deepest gratitude!"
After working hard all evening, who would refuse free drinks?
With a collective cheer, the crowd swarmed around Yang Yucheng toward Donglai Shun.
Jin Yuanbao shot A Sen a meaningful glance and hauled Zuo Junjie along behind the group.
Two officers from the Five Cities Patrol Brigade eagerly stepped forward. "Lord Jin, no need to trouble yourself—leave him to us."
"Gladly!" Jin Yuanbao handed Zuo Junjie over casually, and the group exited the alley together.
Zhang Taitai watched Yang Yucheng's retreating figure, nodding approvingly. "My husband certainly has an eye for talent!"
Fu Tingyun chuckled and invited Zhang Taitai inside. "Please stay here tonight!"This time, Zhang Taitai did not decline. She warmly linked arms with Fu Tingyun and walked through the Zhao family's gate.
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By noon the next day, Fu Tingyun finally saw off Zhang Taitai, who had enthusiastically insisted she must visit their home.
A Sen immediately popped out.
"Sister-in-law," he said in a hushed voice, unable to conceal the pride in his expression, "we've locked him up in a cellar at Three-Eyes Alley. Brother Yuanbao is personally guarding him there, waiting for you to question him."
Fu Tingyun was startled. "Why did you choose that place? It's crowded and full of gossipers. What if someone discovers him?"
Three-Eyes Alley, located in the northern part of the city, was like Sheep-Gut Alley and Nook Alley—home to peddlers and laborers. Most residents were renters, and it was common for seven or eight households to share a single courtyard. Zhou Shi had once lived in Sheep-Gut Alley.
"Don't worry, Sister-in-law," A Sen chuckled. "The person who helped find the place is a friend of Brother Yuanbao's. Brother Yuanbao once saved his life. Brother Yuanbao just said it was inconvenient to live with you and wanted to rent a temporary place to stay occasionally without others knowing. The guy thought Brother Yuanbao was planning to keep a mistress outside and immediately found this standalone house. He even pestered Brother Yuanbao to treat him to a wedding banquet..."
Jin Yuanbao was steady, reserved, and meticulous. Anyone he trusted to handle matters would surely be reliable.
Fu Tingyun nodded slightly but couldn't help adding, "Everything has its pros and cons. We must still be careful with this. Even if the speaker means no harm, the listener might take it seriously. If rumors spread about keeping a mistress, what respectable family would dare marry their daughter to him when it's time for a proper matchmaking?"
"Then what should we do?" A Sen widened his eyes. "Brother Yuanbao also said that neither he nor Brother Yucheng can stay there all the time. He suggested you send a woman to stay there for a while—it would help avoid suspicion..."
The idea was sound, but where could she find such a woman? If rumors really spread, how could that woman ever hold her head up again?
Fu Tingyun felt a headache coming on. "Let's go take a look first. We'll discuss this matter later."
A Sen cheerfully agreed and went to instruct Zheng San to prepare the carriage. Fu Tingyun kissed her daughter, played with her for a while, then entrusted household affairs to Zheng Sanniang before setting off for Three-Eyes Alley with Yu Wei.
Winters in the capital were long and bitterly cold. Every household stored cabbage and radishes; otherwise, they'd have to eat pickles for months. Thus, while cellars weren't small, they weren't particularly spacious either. Fortunately, winter had passed, and the cellar was empty. Though it reeked of an indescribably foul odor, it could at least accommodate Fu Tingyun, Yang Yucheng, and the others.
Zuo Junjie, bound like a zongzi and tossed in a corner of the cellar, had Yang Yucheng's stinky sock stuffed in his mouth. When he saw Fu Tingyun, his eyes blazed with fury, and he mumbled unintelligibly through the gag.
"Take that thing out of his mouth," Fu Tingyun said coolly. "I have questions for him."A Sen responded, stepping forward to pull the sock out of Zuo Junjie's mouth. A torrent of curses immediately spilled forth: "Fu Tingyun, you vicious woman! How dare you frame me as a thief... What did I steal from you? Oh, I stole your undergarments, didn't I? Why gag me? Afraid others will find out? Or is it that you're scared your current lover might hear—"
Before Fu Tingyun could speak, Yang Yucheng strode forward, grabbed him, and delivered several sharp slaps across his face—left and right—in quick succession. "Watch your filthy mouth! My sister-in-law asks you a question, you answer it properly. If I hear one more vulgar word from you, I swear I'll crush that thing between your legs that carries on your family line, then sell you to a male brothel. Let you experience what it's like to be ridden by thousands and slept with by tens of thousands..."
Jin Yuanbao, hearing this, shot an uneasy glance at Fu Tingyun and hurriedly interjected, "What kind of nonsense are you spouting? Have you forgotten who's present?"
Yang Yucheng flushed red and dropped Zuo Junjie to the ground. With an embarrassed smile toward Fu Tingyun, he said, "Sister-in-law, please don't take it to heart. We're just crude men—words slipped out, just slipped out!"
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Yesterday morning was free time, afternoon meeting... took a walk on the beach.
Today heading to Wuzhizhou Island.
O(∩_∩)O~
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(End of Chapter)
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