Chapter Ninety-Four: The Girls of Northern Ridge City Are Quite Fetching~

Thus the North Ridge Prince’s Residence rang with song by day and blazed with light by night, the sounds of silk and bamboo never once ceasing. It went on for a full three days and three nights.

When the girl on the pipa’s hands grew sore, she was replaced by one at the zither. When the dancers grew weary, the singers took their turn.

“Eleven.” Seventh drooped his head and spoke weakly, “Was the young master like this even in the capital?”

“Even worse,” Eleven said, shaking his head and swaying it about.

The longest record had been seven days and seven nights, and that was at the House of Music and Dance.

Back when he had just been expelled from the Imperial Academy, Li Yunji had said he was going to write a poem cursing He Xianzong.

So he had gone to the House of Music and Dance, hoping to borrow a little scholarly grace from the women there and rub some refinement into himself.

In the end, he had not managed to write the poem, but he had managed to drink every drop of wine in the place.

“I knew it.” Eleven looked at the drunk-as-death Li Yunji with obvious satisfaction, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. “That is the young master as he truly is.”

Seventh’s brow furrowed. In his eyes there was not only confusion, but also a trace of envy.

“If only I had gone to the capital too.”

“You like going to the pleasure houses and listening to songs as well?” Eleven asked, unable to hide his curiosity.

“Of course not.” Seventh sighed. “I just wanted to stay by the young master’s side forever.”

Eleven thought of the year they had left North Ridge and said quietly, “Before the young master left North Ridge, he was searching for you everywhere.”

“But he searched the whole residence and still could not find you.”

“Speaking of which, where exactly did you go back then?”

Seventh gave a bitter laugh, his gaze drifting. “I’ll tell you without fear of your laughing at me.”

“That day, I happened to see Old Madam Wang at the street corner washing clothes in the river.”

“So I pissed into her basket.”

“As a result, she chased me for three streets, and I had to hide in the City God Temple.”

“And why was that?” Eleven asked, baffled.

A flash of anger crossed Seventh’s face. “Because that old woman had a filthy mouth!”

“She was the one who cursed the young master the most every day!”

“I only wanted to help the young master vent his anger!”

After hearing this, Eleven could not help laughing helplessly. He patted Seventh on the shoulder. “With that temperament of yours, it is no wonder the young master often thought of you after arriving in the capital.”

Seventh’s eyes lit up, a ripple stirring in his heart. “Really?”

“Why would I lie to you?”

Seventh’s eyes reddened slightly, yet a smile still curved his lips.

“Eleven.” As the two chatted, Li Yunji had somehow already risen to his feet. “Pack up. Come out with me.”

Eleven hurriedly nodded. “Has the young master sobered up so quickly?”

“I was never drunk.” Li Yunji said indifferently, “I was only putting on an act for those hidden watchers.”

As he spoke, he took off his clothes. “Seventh, put these on and pretend to be me.”

Seventh gave an “oh” and quickly changed into Li Yunji’s clothes.

Li Yunji and Eleven put on the night clothes they had prepared long ago and vanished silently into the darkness.

...

“Master, where are we going?” On the streets of North Ridge City, Eleven could not help asking.

“The docks.” Li Yunji’s voice was grave. “By my reckoning, the shipment the Thousand Gold Gambling House sent from the southern lands to North Ridge City should have arrived by now.”

Eleven nodded in sudden understanding.

The two of them wound through streets and alleys, and before long they reached the docks.

By the time they arrived, it was the third watch, yet the docks were still brightly lit.

Li Yunji’s gaze was sharp as a blade as he swept it across the area.

In view, several men in black were busily moving cargo from the ship onto a carriage.

As they moved, they could faintly hear the metallic clink coming from the boxes.

Just as Li Yunji was watching intently, a sudden change erupted.

“Who is it?!”

On the carriage, a black-clad man suddenly turned around, weapon in hand, and unleashed a slash of sword energy straight at Li Yunji!

Li Yunji shifted like a shadow and avoided the strike.

“Withdraw!”

The two of them ran back without looking over their shoulders.

In the night, their figures were ghostlike, and they soon vanished into the depths of the dark alley.

The black-clad man frowned, mounted a fast horse, and sped toward the General’s Residence.

...

“What?!”

Inside the General’s Residence, Li Yi’s expression changed drastically upon hearing the disturbance at the docks.

He leaped onto a white horse and rode straight for the North Ridge Prince’s Residence.

Passing the outer wall of the estate, he heard waves of string music drifting out.

Li Yi could not help frowning. He sprang into the air and landed steadily in the courtyard.

The doors of the main hall stood open, the place ablaze with light.

Beneath the candlelight, several graceful figures danced to the accompaniment of mellow strings.

Li Yi’s heart tightened. He pushed the door open and entered, and the music came to an abrupt stop.

Everyone turned to look at Li Yi, his expression stern, and hurriedly bowed to the floor.

“Greetings, General Li.”

Li Yi swept his gaze over the room, but there was no sign of Li Yunji.

“Where is the heir apparent?!” Li Yi said in a low voice.

He stood with his hands clasped behind his back, without anger yet with unquestionable authority.

When his eyes fell on a figure obscured by the table, his heart gave a jolt and he strode forward.

There, he saw a disheveled man lying drunkenly on the floor.

Leaning down for a closer look, Li Yi discovered it was Seventh.

“Speak! Where is the heir?!” Li Yi seized Seventh by the collar and roared.

Seventh opened his bleary eyes. The liquor had not yet worn off, and he looked around in confusion. “Wasn’t the young master just here a moment ago?”

Li Yi’s face darkened, and a vague premonition of something ominous rose within him.

“I’ll give you one more chance!” Li Yi’s tone grew increasingly savage, his gaze like a knife. “Where exactly has the heir gone?!”

Seventh forced down the unease in his heart and said with feigned composure, “I really do not know.”

“Perhaps the young master had a sudden urge to relieve himself and went to the privy.”

“You seek death!”

Li Yi was furious beyond measure. He raised his hand, gathering strength, and was about to strike when he suddenly heard a lazy voice from outside the door.

“Uncle?”

Turning back, he saw Li Yunji leaning drunkenly against the doorframe, smiling with half-closed eyes. “So late. What brings you here?”

As he finished speaking, he let out a belch.

Seeing Li Yunji appear so suddenly, Li Yi slowly released Seventh’s collar. The ends of his mustache rose slightly, and he put on a perfect false smile.

“Isn’t your uncle here because he missed you?”

Li Yunji staggered up to Li Yi. The reek of wine made Li Yi’s brow tighten faintly.

“Uncle, you came at just the right time.”

“I have a secret to tell you.”

Li Yunji swayed back and forth, as though he might topple at any moment.

“What secret?” Li Yi’s smile did not fade, but his expression had turned wary.

Li Yunji leaned mysteriously close to Li Yi’s ear and burped.

“The girls of North Ridge City.”

“Are very fine.”

Li Yi first froze, then exchanged a look with Li Yunji and suddenly burst into laughter.

Li Yunji also bent over laughing, his voice echoing through the empty hall.

For a long while, the laughter could not be calmed.

“If the nephew likes them, what harm is there in bringing one back to the capital?”

With a thud, Li Yunji flopped to the floor, sprawled out in all directions, muttering, “The capital is too far. It is better to live freely and at ease here in North Ridge.”

Li Yi gradually restrained his laughter and probed, “If my memory serves, this visit to North Ridge was for the purpose of investigating a case, was it not?”

“With things like this, if you are so immersed in a warm and tender paradise, how are you supposed to investigate anything?”

“Oh, right. I came here to investigate.” Li Yunji slowly sat up, lifting his eyelids with a half-drunken look. “Uncle, let me ask you something.”

“Do you want me to investigate this case?”

“Or do you want me not to investigate it?”

“Burp.”