Chapter Seventy-One: Captured

Because they were eager to eavesdrop on Zhou Yangfeng, Feng Yewu and the other two raised their cups and drained them in one gulp.

“Excellent wine!”

Feng Yewu gently pursed her lips, savoring the fresh, clear fragrance lingering in her mouth; as it slipped down her throat, the taste stretched out, subtle and lasting.

Even Lu Jue, usually reserved, couldn’t help but show a look of enjoyment.

“Hahaha, I’ve been here several times, and the wine still tastes wonderful—never tired of it,” Zheng Tianlan said, laughing aloud.

“The owner instructed me to follow Young Master Zheng’s preferences for now. If you two gentlemen enjoy it, I’ll go back and make a note of it,” the servant replied simply, then carried the tray away.

Watching the servant depart, Lu Jue felt a tinge of confusion, sensing something was amiss.

The trio continued to listen in on the sounds from the neighboring room. Yet after only a moment, Feng Yewu and the others began to feel dizzy.

“This isn’t good—something’s wrong,” Lu Jue realized his martial arts were suppressed. Beside him, Zheng Tianlan’s eyes grew listless.

Feng Yewu staggered, nearly falling.

“I... I thought it strange when that servant said he’d record our preferences, but never asked our surnames... or names!” Lu Jue hadn’t finished speaking before the three collapsed one after another.

As they fell, the door to the room swung open from outside.

Qian Zhiyao entered, leading several attendants, her smile cold and mocking.

“Take these three to the backyard,” she ordered.

The attendants carried Feng Yewu and her companions out.

Who knows how long passed before the three finally regained consciousness.

“What...?” Zheng Tianlan was perplexed, seeing himself, Feng Yewu, and Lu Jue bound together in the backyard of the music hall.

“Did we give away our whereabouts?” Lu Jue wondered aloud, struggling to free himself from the ropes.

Feng Yewu quietly observed the surroundings, saying nothing.

“Awake, are you? No need to struggle. My sedative would leave even grandmasters powerless for three to four hours,” Qian Zhiyao said, smiling as she walked from the back door, her eyes sizing up the trio.

“Madam Qian, is there some misunderstanding? I’m a frequent patron of your establishment!” Zheng Tianlan said, offering a courteous smile.

“Misunderstanding?” Qian Zhiyao’s gaze was contemptuous, her lips curling in a slight, angry sneer as she questioned coldly. “Young Master Zheng, as a regular, you surely know the rules here. If you were truly discussing your own affairs, I wouldn’t have intervened. But since you’ve broken the rules, you must be taught a lesson.”

Lu Jue, hearing this, realized they had been under Qian Zhiyao’s surveillance all along.

“Madam Qian, Young Master Ye and I are first-time visitors and unfamiliar with the rules. I hope you’ll forgive us,” Lu Jue acknowledged their discovery, smiling as he apologized.

“Master? I think it’s Miss Ye, isn’t it? Which family’s young lady are you, coming here to make such trouble?” Qian Zhiyao ignored Lu Jue, her gaze settling directly on Feng Yewu, her lips curled in amusement as she sized her up.

Feng Yewu’s bearing was far from that of an ordinary woman; to be accompanied by Zheng Tianlan implied considerable status.

The music hall had collected intelligence for years, and while Qian Zhiyao couldn’t claim to know every dignitary in the capital, she recognized most.

Feng Yewu was clearly not among them—could she be a noble lady from elsewhere?

“Well, Miss Ye, are you still going to pretend? I’ve been in this world long enough to tell men from women. You won’t fool me,” Qian Zhiyao said, approaching with a seductive smile to press her further.

Feng Yewu met Qian Zhiyao’s gaze without flinching, responding with a playful smile.

“Since Madam Qian is so skilled, why not try guessing my identity as well?”

Seeing her attitude, Qian Zhiyao’s brows furrowed, and she snorted coldly.

“Hmph! What a stubborn little thing! Don’t think your family’s influence lets you do as you please. The power I command here reaches to heaven and earth. No matter your family’s position—even if the emperor himself came—he’d think twice before acting.”

Hearing Qian Zhiyao’s confidence, Feng Yewu couldn’t help but laugh.

“Then I don’t understand. If you’re so powerful, why remain merely the proprietor of a music hall?”

Feng Yewu’s question made Qian Zhiyao’s expression turn icy.

Born and raised in the dust of the world, had she not received secret support from someone in court, she might have vanished long ago.

Qian Zhiyao was briefly distracted, but soon recovered, glaring sharply at Feng Yewu and pressing her in a low voice.

“Speak! Which official’s daughter are you?”

Even now, Qian Zhiyao remained convinced that Feng Yewu must be some dignitary’s daughter.

Feng Yewu stared coldly at her, snorting with contempt.

“My identity is best left unknown to you.”

Hearing this, the shrewd Qian Zhiyao’s eyes flashed with speculation as she examined Feng Yewu anew.

Suddenly, she spotted a jade pendant at Feng Yewu’s waist and hurriedly took it.

Holding the jade, Qian Zhiyao scrutinized it, her alarm growing with each glance.

“This... this is something from the palace?”

With her conclusion, Qian Zhiyao looked at Feng Yewu in astonishment, her expression growing complicated.

“Now you know—so let us go!” Feng Yewu saw the fear flicker in Qian Zhiyao’s eyes and demanded coldly to be released.

Qian Zhiyao, hearing this, was convinced, but stood rooted in place, glancing about.

“Why aren’t you letting us go?” Zheng Tianlan pressed, seeing her unmoved.

“Hahahahaha!” Qian Zhiyao’s earlier panic vanished; instead, she laughed aloud, addressing them. “Young Master Zheng, I may be a woman of the world, but I’m no fool. You’ve come here several times without revealing your identity. Now you bring someone from the palace—if I let you go, disaster will surely befall my music hall.”

Her eyes grew fierce, the intent to kill rising.

Lu Jue was shocked by her ruthlessness and protested angrily, “Aren’t you afraid that killing us today will bring even graver consequences?”

Having made up her mind, Qian Zhiyao remained indifferent to their protests, answering calmly, “From the moment you three entered, I’ve been watching. From your words and actions, it’s clear you didn’t come for my music hall.”

“In that case, isn’t it better for you to let us go?” Feng Yewu replied coolly.

“Precisely the opposite. If you were here to investigate my music hall, I wouldn’t panic—I’d have ways to deal with you. But now, you’re here prying into someone else’s secrets, violating taboos. If I let you leave, I’ll offend powers on every side. Then, there’d be no place left in the world for us.”

Qian Zhiyao spoke frankly of the risks, and Feng Yewu silently nodded in agreement.

She was right; if it were her, she certainly wouldn’t let the three live.