Chapter 61 Ancient Rogue

"Where is he now?" Qi Chengming asked calmly.

He didn't believe that even though Chief Steward Song had reported it, those two dangerous individuals hadn't been dealt with yet.

Everyone has different little gestures when they are thinking. Qi Chengming didn't know what his own little gestures would be, but when he wanted to hide his emotions, he would consciously control himself not to tap the table, not to move his fingers in agitation, and not to let his eyes wander.

All Qi Chengming could do was stare intently at the person speaking with a stern face, and then...

My thoughts are in turmoil.

"..." The butcher was so intimidated by this aura that he was sweating profusely, and he stammered, unable to finish his sentence, "They... were... arrested."

Under the intense gaze of the new emperor, Song Gu involuntarily straightened his back. He didn't feel pressured; on the contrary, he became even more radiant and solemnly and appropriately added in his reply: "We watched them all night and all day. No one came to meet us. Since these two thugs were preparing to commit a crime, we took them away and temporarily locked them up in the east wing."

"Interrogate them, and strengthen control over Liuzhou City during this time." Qi Chengming couldn't sit still any longer and immediately took a step to go and take a look.

The east wing was the residence of the Imperial Guards. It was much safer to be locked up here than in the county jail, effectively preventing things like "suicide" or "accidental death."

Song Gu was about to follow his prince when he gave a glance to the clever little eunuch behind him, who then stopped the butcher and politely escorted him back.

The east courtyard was packed with people, and other Imperial Guards who had heard the news were spontaneously gathering to watch.

This should be the first major event they experience in Liuzhou.

Someone actually dared to make a move against the people of the Prince's Mansion!

Few Imperial Guards were indifferent; all those off duty rushed over.

Those who had initially lost weight due to the unfamiliar climate of Liuzhou were now completely captivated by the aroma of stir-fried dishes, gaining several sizes of weight from daily nutritious meals and developing muscular physiques. They were now crowded together in the courtyard.

Qi Chengming glanced at them in surprise, but felt even more at ease.

It's too safe.

"Your Highness." Youzi, who was guarding the door, bowed to Qi Chengming in surprise, and then tried to stop him, "It's filthy inside. Boss Mao is personally leading people to interrogate people. Once he gets the information, he will send it out immediately."

No prince had ever personally gotten involved in such filth, so the traveler assumed it was because his own lord was impatient.

"I won't go in to see, I'll just listen from here." Qi Chengming heard the screams and indistinct sobs coming from inside, thought for a moment, and compromised. The anxiety on the faces of Xiao Dezi, Xiao Chengzi, and Song Gu, who had been chasing after them from a distance, finally disappeared.

"How long will this trial take?" Xiao Chengzi asked in a low voice, not quite understanding.

"It depends on how stubborn they are. I heard that some people who were dragged to the Imperial Prison were beaten to death but still wouldn't speak," Xiao Dezi whispered. Thinking of Commander Mao's straightforward and forthright demeanor, he wondered if Commander Mao really knew how to interrogate people.

Qi Chengming actually shared the same concerns.

He listened intently to what was happening inside.

It wasn't Commander Mao speaking, but another calm male voice, speaking at a measured pace: "Is the Lady Zhang you came to assassinate the Second Prince's wet nurse?"

"You know?" "You don't?"

"You've come from the capital?"

"You haven't figured out how to get back, but you don't want to die, right?"

Qi Chengming: "...?"

He barely heard the assailant's reply, only screams, but the questioning voice was very clear, mostly consisting of questions.

Even from where the traveler stood, he could faintly hear it. He became restless and paced back and forth a couple of times.

The brothers who went in with Mao this time weren't the usual spies; they were from another team, and he wasn't very familiar with them. To Youzi, it sounded as if the interrogators were revealing more information to the interrogated.

"Don't worry." Now it was Qi Chengming's turn to comfort the traveler.

He had a guess and exclaimed in his heart: This is not scientific!

This person is absolutely capable!

Half an hour later, Qi Chengming could no longer stand still and sat down at the stone table in the east courtyard to play chess.

The usual calm and collected expression on Song Gu's face disappeared. He sat opposite him with a furrowed brow, fidgeting with a chess piece, sweating profusely.

"So, are you admitting defeat?" Qi Chengming asked inscrutablely.

Xiao Dezi and Xiao Chengzi stood to the side, barely daring to breathe, their expressions grave, glancing at one another every now and then.

Some of the imperial guards who had been watching the spectacle usually practiced their swordsmanship or boxing in the courtyard during their rest periods, but now they wisely stopped and remained quiet. A few guards, who still had some education, boldly approached to watch: "..."

"It looks like it's going to be pretty intense," someone whispered.

On the Go board, black and white stones were locked in a fierce battle, and apart from that, they couldn't understand anything else.

Based on what the prince said, is it possible that Eunuch Song is going to lose?

Song Gu's face remained expressionless, his gaze sweeping over the battlefield. He wasn't the type to deliberately lose a game to curry favor and ensure the new emperor's victory; His Highness wouldn't be pleased with that either.

"There's a flaw here." Song Gu's eyes suddenly lit up, and he slammed the chess piece onto the board with a powerful "thud."

"...!" The person with furrowed brows suddenly changed, and Qi Chengming gripped the chess piece, racking his brains to come up with a solution.

A series of hurried footsteps came from outside the door.

Huang Dong, looking at least ten times more weathered and rough than before, covered in mud as if he had just returned from a construction site, stepped through the doorway. He had rushed back as soon as he heard the news, not even bothering to repair the cement road: "...I heard you caught a few thugs who wanted to commit violence?"

"Your Highness!" Huang Dong looked the young prince up and down from a distance, and only breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that the prince was still focused on playing chess. He pursed his excessively dry lips and said, "...Phew."

"It's not me who's in trouble, they're interrogating me inside." Qi Chengming quickly reassured Mr. Huang, waving his hand to put his mind at ease.

Since it wasn't His Highness who was in trouble, Huang Dong wasn't too concerned. He suddenly relaxed and saw the two playing chess. He became interested and strolled over: "Your Highness is playing Go?"

While on the ship, Master Qin could teach His Highness to play the zither. Huang Dong wasn't good at those things, so he could only watch silently. But now that they were talking about chess, that was his area of ​​expertise!

Huang Dong glanced at his dirty hands, silently put them behind his back, and focused intently on the chessboard. Then, the confident smile that hadn't yet faded from his lips froze: "..."

Is this...is this a game of Go?

Unsure, let me take another look.

Black and white stones are intertwined in a large area, but... but this situation is incomprehensible. The black stones, which should have been blocking, jumped instead. The white stones, which should have been cutting, inexplicably strengthened their position on the other side.

...Why strengthen your position at a time like this? Why don't you just go for it!

It's like a fire breaking out at your doorstep, an extremely urgent situation where even the door is blocked. Instead of rushing out to escape, you're still stuck at home repairing that sturdy but useless wall!

Huang Dong's face flushed red, then turned a bluish-purple hue. His heart was bleeding; the pieces on both sides were practically vying to give each other points.

I can't bear to look... I can't bear to look at this...!

The young man was covered in mud and filth, his face unshaven, and his skin and hands rough like old tree bark. Yet, he stood beside the chessboard, deep in thought, the contrast striking at first glance.

"Um?"

Qi Chengming keenly sensed that Mr. Huang seemed to be a skilled Go player. He worried that Mr. Huang's change in expression might upset him. Embarrassed, Qi Chengming put away the Go pieces and explained, "Manager Song and I were just playing for fun. Don't take it seriously."

"Would you like to hear the details?" Huang Dong asked impatiently. He couldn't understand what was going on in this game of chess no matter what he did, and his curiosity had reached its peak.

"We're... um, using the two thugs arrested today as a drill." Qi Chengming hastily gestured to the 19x19 chessboard. Wasn't he already using the chessboard to establish a communication base? Now, simulating a sand table on the Go board seemed like the perfect solution.

“This is Liuzhou City, and this is the seventeenth of seven – the butcher’s house where the incident occurred. I hold the white pieces and will start by placing pieces on this side to simulate the murderer.”

“I used black ink to act as yamen runners and imperial guards, including those common people, who were all those who surrounded us,” Song Gu continued.

Huang Dong: "..."

He silently observed the situation for a moment, and this time he finally managed to understand it, albeit with some difficulty.

Players of Go can often simulate the subsequent intricate struggles based on the initial moves of the stones. Looking at this chaotic battle, is this really a scene of imperial guards bravely fighting off two thugs to escape?

This was nothing short of a fierce battle where a large group of thugs stormed into Liuzhou City and wreaked havoc, and the Imperial Guards fought back fiercely, resulting in a street battle between the two sides!

Huang Dong's expression was indescribable.

Qi Chengming glanced at the chessboard, threw down his pieces, and readily admitted defeat: "I've lost."

He felt comforted.

Chief Steward Song was incredibly shrewd. He didn't offer a single word of comfort, but instead suggested playing Go with him. Qi Chengming realized that as long as Liuzhou City had his established strongholds, it could function normally and avoid self-destructive chaos and internal strife. By quietly screening the situation on ordinary days, he wouldn't need to fear anything if trouble actually arose.

His anxiety vanished.

Suddenly, there was movement inside. Commander Mao rushed out, beckoning Youzi over and speaking to him. Without a word, Youzi turned and told everyone to set off. A familiar old Imperial Guard was also with Commander Mao; it seemed they had gotten what they wanted from him.

Qi Chengming turned his gaze and sat up straight.

"Your Highness—he's a rogue from Yulin Prefecture." Commander Mao's words stunned Qi Chengming.

"ah?"

Qi Chengming was stunned for a moment, vaguely recalling that the meaning of "hooligan" in ancient times was different from that in modern times, but he forgot what it specifically meant.

Song Gu, observing the situation, added from the side: "Those without land are called wanderers, and those without houses or homes are called hooligans. Hooligans are often a group of people known as wandering knights, who like to fight for justice everywhere, make many friends, and value loyalty over life."

Qi Chengming's expression became quite subtle upon hearing this: "..."

Uh, actually...

He felt that the Second Young Master Wen perfectly fit this impression… If he weren't from a noble family, he'd be considered a rogue. Or rather, the Second Young Master Wen was practically a wandering knight-errant now. Speaking of this guy, the imperial envoy has already left, why haven't we heard from him yet?

"At first they were defiant to the death, but then we talked—" the old Imperial Guard continued, emphasizing his words.

"These two wandering knights didn't know the people looking for them. They had only heard that a woman named Zhang had run away with a man she had stolen, and that the man she had stolen was someone of importance—someone from the Prince Rui's household. The man was crying terribly, but he was ill and unable to chase after him. His only son, who was only a few years old, had been kidnapped somewhere in the blink of an eye because there was no one to take care of him at home..."

"The man took out the last of his silver and prepared a lavish feast for them. The two angry young knights agreed to the job, vowing to kill Zhang Niangzi and spread her deeds far and wide. As for how they would leave after they finished their business... they didn't care."

Qi Chengming's face was as cold as ice: "I bet they didn't go back to look for that man, did they?"

If you try to look for it now, it will probably be deserted.

These are two chivalrous individuals who disregard their own lives for the sake of loyalty, yet are unwilling to even investigate the truth thoroughly, allowing themselves to be completely manipulated and used as pawns. They are both hateful and laughable...

Qi Chengming was furious.

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Author's Note: The Go strategies in this chapter don't need to be taken too seriously; I just made them up, haha.

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