Chapter 56: Today
"I want information."
Yang Xuan's voice echoed through the tavern.
"Pingkang District has the most brothels in Chang'an, and Chang'an is where the wealthy of the Great Tang gather."
"Women conquer the world by conquering men, while men conquer women by conquering the world." Yang Xuan looked up.
A series of astonished and admiring gazes.
Young master’s words… incisive, full of philosophy, the more one pondered them, the more profound they became… As a scholar, Cao Ying naturally understood the truths hidden within those sentences.
The old thief’s body trembled, thinking of that woman. So, back then, my grave robbing in northern Liao was to show her that I could conquer this world.
The world of tomb raiding.
Only Wang Lao’er was unmoved; in his world, finding a place to eat came first, and the person must be sincere.
Mother said, if someone always avoids you when discussing matters, be wary and find a chance to escape.
The beggars of the Eastern Market always avoided me when meeting, but young master takes me wherever he goes.
Gratitude filled Wang Lao’er’s eyes.
“I don’t care about the legitimate ones,” Yang Xuan said. “But I know some women were coaxed, deceived, or forced into coming here.”
A ruffian raised his hand.
Yang Xuan nodded.
The ruffian said, “Commander Yang, those women have all become prostitutes—no one cares.”
“I care!” Yang Xuan replied. “You lot are the local snakes; you know which places have such women. Mister Cao.”
Cao Ying stepped forward. “I… I’m here.”
He had just watched Yang Xuan direct the crowd with confidence and nearly blurted out, “Your servant is here.” Luckily, he bit his tongue in time, or today would have ended with bloodshed.
“Record it!” Yang Xuan said coolly.
“Yes.” Cao Ying sat and ground ink.
Yang Xuan merely watched the sliver of light streaming through the door crack, waiting for Cao Ying to lift his brush. Then he looked up.
“The last one…”
“I’ll speak!” A group of ruffians eagerly raised their hands.
So action works best… Cao Ying mentally noted the detail.
“Yingyue Tower…”
Cao Ying’s brush moved like the wind, and in no time, he had recorded more than ten establishments.
The old thief leaned in and whispered, “Young master, we’re short on manpower.”
“Rest assured.” Yang Xuan appreciated the reminder.
Not only did the old thief notice, even busy Cao Ying stole a glance at Yang Xuan.
With so few people, how could they manage? Enter one brothel, and the others would destroy evidence and hide those involved.
The ruffians lowered their heads, some snickering silently.
The recording finished.
Yang Xuan took the list, glanced over it, and looked up, “That should suffice.”
Knock, knock, knock!
Someone knocked on the door.
Wen Xinshu opened it, then paused in surprise.
“Yang Xuan!”
A broad-faced, wide-mouthed official, bold and hearty, strode in.
“Brother Liang!” Yang Xuan rose.
Liang Jing swept his gaze over the ruffians. “You said there’d be merit today—where?”
“How many men did you bring?” Yang Xuan asked.
Liang Jing held up five fingers. “Five hundred. Wanted to bring a thousand, but that wretch clung to my leg, crying that too many men would spark impeachment for rebellion. Damn it!”
“That’s enough.” Yang Xuan handed over the list.
Liang Jing glanced at it, frowned. “What’s this? Saving fallen women… rescuing them isn’t considered merit.”
Yang Xuan smiled, “Brother Liang, if you trust me, distribute your men, and once in position, signal, then act.”
Liang Jing stared at him; Yang Xuan stared back.
Suddenly, Liang Jing slapped his shoulder and laughed, “If I don’t trust you, who would I trust?”
You trust the imperial consort!
Yang Xuan laughed along; the two seemed as close as brothers.
“What next?” Liang Jing asked, after organizing his men.
“I’ve summoned Lady Qin.”
A haggard woman entered.
Yang Xuan said, “Your daughter died tragically, and those who did evil still walk free. Today, you shall have justice.”
…
“Your Highness.”
The emperor handled state affairs, while the women of the harem each minded their own.
The favored enjoyed amusements; the neglected could only wait quietly in their small domains, hoping for the emperor’s grace to occasionally fall upon them.
The imperial consort stood outside the hall. A palace maid held a pole, atop which perched a parrot. “Greetings, Your Highness! Greetings, Your Highness!”
“Only clever with its tongue,” the consort smiled.
“Your Highness,” another maid approached. “The eldest young master has taken five hundred palace guards to Pingkang District.”
The consort’s brows furrowed, “What mischief is he up to now?”
“Said he’s going to arrest someone.” The details remained unclear.
The consort turned, “Send someone at once to check. If he’s causing trouble, intervene.”
Her delicate, frowning beauty was moving in its own way.
“Greetings, Your Highness! Greetings, Your Highness…” The parrot’s eager cries failed to earn a glance from the beauty; its greetings echoed emptily.
“Your Highness!”
Jiao Li arrived, leaned in and whispered, “The eldest young master went at the invitation of that notorious commander.”
A flicker of something else appeared in the consort’s eyes, “What does he intend?”
…
Squads of soldiers ran through Pingkang District.
Yang Xuan and his companions waited outside Yingyue Tower.
“Oh, isn’t that Deputy Liang?” The madam rushed out, eager to curry favor.
Liang Jing pointed at her, “All your filth—bring it forth today.”
The madam, unaware of the gravity, tried to grab his arm, “Oh! Deputy Liang wants to…”
Bang!
The madam clutched her face, about to explain.
Whoosh!
A whistling arrow shot skyward.
This was the signal for all men in position.
But Yang Xuan had agreed on a shrill whistle!
He looked at Liang Jing.
Liang Jing wore a showy expression, “Isn’t that impressive?”
“Plenty!” Yang Xuan raised his hand. Beside him, Zhuque whispered, “Should you tell him about the Xiongnu prince Modun, who trained his men with whistling arrows and killed his wife and father?”
Liang Jing would wet himself on the spot.
Yang Xuan shook his head, waved his hand.
“Go!”
Squads of soldiers charged into the brothels; in broad daylight, a few men shrieked in terror.
“Someone’s having a heart attack!” The prostitutes’ screams echoed above Pingkang District.
…
The soldiers stormed into Yingyue Tower. Someone shouted, “Zhang Sanniang, Zhang Sanniang from Xincheng, we’re here to rescue you! Zhang Sanniang…”
“Yu Dame, Yu Dame…”
The soldiers rushed upstairs.
Thudding footsteps!
The wooden stairs trembled!
A door opened, revealing an arrogant face, “Get out, all of you!”
Bang!
A soldier kicked the man back.
“Zhang Sanniang!”
Creak!
A door ahead opened.
A woman stepped out slowly, gazing at the soldiers.
She blinked.
“I am she.”
Several women were brought to the main hall.
Yang Xuan and Liang Jing stood by.
Reports kept coming.
“Three found at Hongyue Tower.”
“Two at Jiuxiang Tower!”
The madam kept a smiling face, “Deputy Liang, isn’t this unnecessary?”
Liang Jing glared, “Get out of my sight!”
The madam, her eyes darting, sidled up to Yang Xuan, “Young master, so heroic—let’s talk upstairs.”
Outside, squads of soldiers escorted rescued women; gradually, crowds gathered around Yingyue Tower.
The old thief stood behind Lady Qin, “Your daughter was tortured to death. Now is the chance for revenge—cry out, wail, let all of Chang’an weep with you.”
Lady Qin slowly walked forward.
Following the old thief’s guidance, she should throw herself to the ground, wailing and pounding the earth, lamenting her daughter’s tragic fate.
But as she reached the doorway of Yingyue Tower, memories swept over her.
That little dumpling, so pink and adorable, cherished by the whole family. As she grew, everyone dreamed she’d marry a good man, live a life of happiness.
But at nine, the child vanished.
The family searched frantically. Someone said they saw a carriage, heard a girl’s cries, then it was blocked, heading toward Chang’an. Their hearts surged with hope and dread; they rushed to report it.
The journey brought them to Chang’an; the couple searched everywhere.
They searched and searched; money ran out, and they begged. Later, they heard Pingkang District kept young girls, and sought the place. But they couldn’t enter the brothels!
One day, they heard a girl had jumped to her death; they went to see.
Seeing the dead girl, they went mad.
Then came a farce—a servant was thrown out to take the blame, reportedly exiled south. But someone told them Yingyue Tower’s backers were powerful, the servant would return in two years at most.
Her husband spat blood and died.
She had no wish to return, and begged in Chang’an.
She never knew why she stayed.
Until now!
She slowly knelt.
Raised her head.
Lifted both hands.
Violently shook them, as if summoning something.
“My child, come back, mother will take you home!”
The plight of Lady Qin’s family spread among the crowd.
Silence fell all around.
Inside, the madam kept smiling, “It’s all misunderstandings—these women were sent by others…”
Lady Qin’s story was relayed inside.
Zhang Sanniang lifted her head, “I am a free citizen!”
“Where is your home? Why are you here?”
Cao Ying knew evidence had to be secured quickly.
“My home is…” Zhang Sanniang choked with tears, “I tried to escape, was beaten cruelly. They said if I tried again, they’d kill me… I didn’t dare; they really would kill. I didn’t dare!”
The madam chuckled dryly, “Utter nonsense.”
Yang Xuan asked, “Who’s in charge?”
The prostitutes looked at the madam.
The madam smiled at everyone, “This isn’t a place to slander!”
Outside, someone shouted, “This is Chunyu’s business!”
The madam smiled, “Utter nonsense.”
“She’s the cruelest!” Zhang Sanniang pointed at the madam.
The madam shot her a cold look.
The old thief entered, walked to Yang Xuan’s side, “This madam has killed before.”
The old thief frequented haunted places, sensitive to murderous energy.
Liang Jing sniffed, “Chunyu’s place—so be it.”
He patted Yang Xuan’s shoulder, “Throw this madam in jail, let Chunyu deal with it. You’ve done a good deed.”
Cao Ying whispered, “Chunyu forges weapons, wields great power. Young master, we’re still weak. Having rescued so many women, we’ve achieved much.”
Yang Xuan turned.
Lady Qin knelt outside, staring fixedly at the madam.
Two streaks of red blood tears traced her cheeks.
Yang Xuan halted.
Ahead, Cao Ying turned back, “Young master…”
His voice was dazed.
At ten, he dragged his sword into the mountains.
He walked, kept looking back.
He hoped someone at home would call him back.
No one came.
So he hoped villagers would come.
No one came.
He desperately hoped the village chief, representing the officials, would step forth and sternly rebuke Yang Ding and his wife, take him home.
But the chief did not come.
It was a remote village by the frontier; the rules were that parents could discipline their sons, others could not interfere.
In the end, he hoped the gods would hear his prayers.
But the gods were too busy.
He walked, wiped tears, and his heart went from warm to cold.
“Young master.”
Ahead, the old thief turned, as if calling him.
He looked into Lady Qin’s eyes.
All he saw was despair.
Just as he had felt back then.
No one stood up for him then.
But today?
Clang!
His sword left its sheath.
Liang Jing turned in surprise, staring at him.
“Yang Xuan, what are you doing?”
Yang Xuan turned.
The blade swept forth.