Chapter 38: Missing She and Zhou Ting'an had clearly parted ways at the Jinling Money House...
Fang Yilan hurried back to the Marquis' Mansion, walked quickly into the study, placed the account book on the desk, and began to look through it carefully.
After just a few pages, his brows were furrowed tightly.
This account book only had half of the records—no, to be exact, only the even-numbered pages. The right side of each page was blank.
He Huaijiu is a cautious person. Otherwise, how could he have climbed from a marginal figure in the He family to the high position of Minister of War in Shangjing.
But where is the other half of this account book hidden?
She closed the account book, her fingertips tapping rhythmically on the table. He Huaijiu would never leave such an important item lying around. The other half of the account book should be kept somewhere more secure.
Jinling Money House was the first place that came to Fang Yilan's mind.
Firstly, it was heard that the owner of Jinling Money House was a man of the underworld who only cared about money and not people, and his actions were secretive. Even if people in the court wanted to investigate, it would be difficult to find out the truth; secondly, the previous incident with Kang Rao was also related to Jinling Money House.
Xun Yun stood aside and whispered, "General, I've heard there's a secret underground gambling house behind the Jinling Bank. It's a hodgepodge of bad actors, with all sorts of shady dealings taking place. It's where all the gossip from the underworld comes in. But the place is heavily guarded, and without special connections, you might not even be able to get in."
Fang Yilan pondered for a moment and said calmly, "Since there is no way, why not try your luck around the money houses?"
The next day, Fang Yilan changed into men's clothes, wearing a black robe, with his hair tied up, and a sword at his waist, and came to the vicinity of Jinling Money House.
Unexpectedly, I met an acquaintance.
Zhou Ting'an had obviously disguised himself today. In the past, he always wore a casual suit with moon-white cloud crane brocade pattern, but now he was wearing a bright blue robe embroidered with gold, which was the favorite of dandies. It was very different from his usual style.
But even though his clothes had changed, his demeanor and manners were still dignified and his expression was serious. He looked out of place in this bustling city.
Fang Yilan walked up behind him and greeted him, "Master Zhou, what a coincidence that we meet here again today."
Zhou Ting'an's shoulders tensed up, and he turned around warily. Only when he saw that it was Fang Yilan did he breathe a sigh of relief. "General Fang, why are you here too? I'm here to investigate a bribery case."
"Did Master Zhou find a way?"
Zhou Ting'an's eyes flashed with astonishment, and he asked in surprise, "This matter is secret, how did you know about it?"
"Of course, it's also to investigate something. Since Lord Zhou has found a way, do you mind if I come along and take advantage of the favorable situation?"
Zhou Ting'an frowned slightly. That underground gambling house was not a good place. It was full of all kinds of people. If something went wrong, he would not be able to protect her with his own ability. But he didn't want to refuse her and didn't know how to refuse.
At this moment, a burly man with an unfriendly face came over and scratched his hairless head: "The King of Heaven and the Tiger of Earth."
Fang Yilan: "A pagoda to suppress a river monster?"
Zhou Ting'an looked at Fang Yilan, he didn't expect that she had even figured out the secret code.
Fang Yilan hadn't expected this code to be so universal...
The sturdy man looked at the two of them speechlessly, and said with a hint of blame: "Didn't we say that only one person can come? I don't think you've been told by your superiors to do this."
Zhou Ting'an was about to explain when Fang Yilan replied with a heroic fist: "I am Mr. Zhou's thug."
The burly man looked Fang Yilan up and down with a hint of suspicion in his eyes. He saw that the man before him was a little thin. Just this small body? He looked down on him.
However, having heard that this Mr. Zhou was famous for his immense wealth and distinguished background, he couldn't afford to offend him. He curled his lips, waved his hands impatiently, and muttered, "Alright, alright, stop dawdling and follow me."
The two followed the burly man into the Jinling Bank. Looking up, they saw the beams gilded with gold. They exited through a hidden side door, winding their way to the backyard, where they saw a row of seemingly ordinary bungalows.
As I pushed open the door and entered, the smell of tobacco mixed with the strong aroma of alcohol hit me in the face, making me want to cough. I climbed down a flight of stairs inside the house, and found a vast world inside.
The gambling table was densely packed with people, who seemed to be cheering and cursing. Although you couldn't see what was going on in the middle, you could hear the dice rolling wildly in the dice cup, making crackling sounds.
Fang Yilan strode to a gambling table and slammed the purse Zhou Ting'an handed to her on the table, attracting the attention of people around her.
The man who led the way looked at the thug sitting proudly at the gambling table, then glanced at Master Zhou standing beside him, and asked with a puzzled look on his face, "Master Zhou, can your thug still gamble for you?"
Zhou Ting'an had no way to explain and could only respond with a perfunctory smile.
"Open!" Fang Yilan's voice was crisp and clear.
In the first few rounds, Fang Yilan's luck seemed to be extremely bad. He only won a few times occasionally, and his chips decreased rapidly like water and went into the dealer's pocket.
She remained calm, supporting her chin with one hand, a smile on her lips, observing the banker's expression.
The gamblers around gradually gathered around, whispering to each other and looking at him strangely, as if they were looking at a madman seeking his own death.
"I'm afraid he's new here and doesn't understand the intricacies of this casino."
A middle-aged man puffed out a puff of smoke and commented, "I think she's going to lose completely today."
As expected, when another round of dice started, Fang Yilan had no chips left. The table was empty and he had lost everything.
"I'll bet on this last round." Her voice was not loud, but it was clearly heard throughout the casino. In an instant, the surroundings became quiet and everyone looked at her curiously.
"Sir, do you have any chips left?" the dealer asked with a sneer, his eyes full of mockery.
Fang Yilan simply spread out his palms, his tone frighteningly calm: "I'm betting on these two hands."
As soon as the words fell, the whole room was in an uproar.
The dealer laughed loudly: "Alright! Since you are willing to fight, I will certainly accompany you."
As he spoke, he pushed the pile of chips to the table.
"Is this guy crazy? He's betting his own hands." Someone muttered in surprise.
"That's right. I'm afraid he's gone crazy after losing everything." Another person echoed, shaking his head and sighing.
The bald man took a few steps back, fearing that the two would cause trouble for him, and said, "Mr. Zhou, you are really addicted to gambling..."
Fang Yilan felt someone tap her shoulder. Zhou Ting'an worriedly advised her, "Don't be so cautious. If you're still short of money, I'll send someone to get some."
Fang Yilan smiled brightly: "Don't worry, I have a plan in mind."
Anyway, if you lose, just run away.
The dealer raised his hand and shook the dice cup, and the dice rolled rapidly, making a series of crisp sounds. Everyone's eyes were fixed on the dice cup, waiting for the outcome of the bet to be revealed.
Finally, the dice stopped.
The dealer raised his hand and said, "Sir, please place your bet."
Fang Yilan stared at the dealer's face and said, "Bet on small."
The dealer's face turned pale instantly. He opened the lid and saw the dice lying quietly at the bottom of the cup. The number was obviously small.
Fang Yilan really made a comeback.
Everyone was stunned, and the banker turned pale and couldn't utter a word.
Fang Yilan slowly stood up, bowed and smiled: "Thank you."
A man came down from the attic on the second floor and whispered a few words into the banker's ear. Then he cupped his fists and said to Yi Lan, "Our boss invites you to come up and see him."
Fang Yilan was about to follow the man upstairs when a sudden commotion erupted from the stairs. He Huaijiu, leading a group of men, stormed into the gambling house. As soon as they entered, they pointed at Fang Yilan and shouted at the top of their lungs, "Catch her!"
He Huaijiu's eyes flashed with ferocity as he yelled, "Fang Yilan, you're so bold! You actually stole my account book! Don't even think about leaving here alive today."
Zhou Ting'an stood in front of Fang Yilan and said, "He Huaijiu, you dare to attack an official appointed by the imperial court. Aren't you afraid of losing your head?"
He Huaijiu sneered as if he had heard some ridiculous joke. "Oh, Lord Zhou is here too. I'm so sorry. You should stay with her today and die here together."
Fang Yilan overturned the gambling table and forced back a group of thugs, but saw another small group of people rushing towards Zhou Ting'an. Fang Yilan drew his sword from its sheath, rushed over to save them, took a blow from Zhou Ting'an's crotch, and then pulled the man behind him.
A burly figure swung a sword at them from the side. Fang Yilan quickly pushed Zhou Ting'an away, the blade grazing the corners of their clothes. She then kicked the enemy's wrist, causing him to feel pain. Fang Yilan seized the opportunity and charged forward, the blade darting straight to the enemy's throat. The enemy's eyes widened in fear, and he tried to dodge, but it was too late.
Seeing Fang Yilan and Zhou Ting'an separated, the besiegers raised their swords and rushed towards the vulnerable Zhou Ting'an. Fang Yilan had no choice but to take a risk and fight his way out in Zhou Ting'an's direction. In a moment of carelessness, the soft sword scratched his cheek, leaving a bloody mark.
Seeing that besieging Zhou Ting'an was effective, He Huaijiu ordered all his men to stab him. Fang Yilan had difficulty in taking care of both ends and his arm was scratched several times.
As she watched, another sword stabbed at her back, and a dagger pierced the attacker's head. The attacker groaned, his body swayed, and he fell straight down.
"Alan..." A voice as clear as jade came slowly from the stairs at the entrance of the gambling house.
"Sir Zhou, are you okay?" Fang Yilan froze when he heard the voice, but he didn't look in the direction of the voice. Instead, he helped Zhou Ting'an, who was kicked to the ground.
Zhao Huaixu just stood there in a daze.
The men he brought with him were well-trained and quickly arrested all of He Huaijiu's men.
Fang Yilan then turned around and bowed respectfully to Zhao Huaixu, thanking him with a hint of distance: "Thank you for your help, Seventh Prince. I will leave this person to you and Lord Zhou to deal with."
A burst of crisp applause came from the attic of the gambling house, and a woman in gorgeous clothes was seen slowly walking down the stairs.
"I've heard that the General Zhenguo is very skilled. Seeing him today, I can see that his reputation is well-deserved." She spoke in a clear voice with some admiration, and looked at Fang Yilan meaningfully.
"I just don't know why General Fang came here today?"
Fang Yilan wanted to speak directly about the account book, but the moment he saw the woman's face clearly, a trace of suspicion flashed in his eyes: "Boss, do you have any sisters at home?"
The woman paused, nearly stumbling down the stairs. She clutched the handrail, her face pale. But a moment later, she regained her composure, a faint smile playing on her lips. "General, you're joking. I grew up without a father or mother, eating at many people's homes. How could I possibly have sisters?"
She walked down the last few steps, her tone calm, "General, there are too many people here, why don't we move and discuss this in detail?"
Fang Yilan's eyes darkened slightly, and without saying anything more, he just nodded: "Okay."
Then he turned to the people behind him and said, "If you have nothing to do, go back first." Without waiting for the two to reply, he turned and left.
Fang Yilan followed the woman, and the two of them walked towards the inner hall in the attic.
The back of the woman in gorgeous clothes was still elegant, but Fang Yilan noticed that her pace was a little faster than before.
The calm mask on the elegantly dressed woman's face suddenly shattered as the door clicked shut. She grabbed Fang Yilan's hand, her fingertips trembling slightly from the force, and her voice was filled with undisguised anxiety: "General... have you ever met my sister?"
Fang Yilan was startled by her sudden action for a moment, but did not struggle to break free. She just asked tentatively, "Is your sister's name Shao Xian?"
The woman's eyes instantly filled with ecstasy, and she gripped Fang Yilan's hand even harder, almost causing her pain. "General, my name is Shao Wan, and I'm Shao Xian's sister! Is my sister...still alive? Where is she now?"
Her voice trembled unconsciously with excitement, and tears welled up in her eyes.
But after a moment, she seemed to realize her own mistake, and quickly let go of her hand, took a half step back, and said with a look of apology: "Sorry, I was abrupt."
"No problem."
"Miss Shao," Fang Yilan said slowly, her tone somewhat soothing, "I do know a little about your sister. However, before that, I also have a few questions for you."
"General, please tell me everything I know."
"What is your relationship with He Huaijiu? Is the other half of Yixianglou's account book in the Jinling Bank?"
Shao Wan's expression froze, and she whispered, "To be honest, I've only been working with He Huaijiu for the past year, searching for clues about my sister. I know Yixianglou has been doing some shady things behind the scenes, and it might be related to my sister's kidnapping and selling. That's why I forced He Huaijiu to pawn half of his account book to my Jinling Bank as leverage."
"I just never thought the general would act so quickly. The Fengxian case is truly a cause for great satisfaction."
Shao Wan's words resolved several doubts in her mind one by one.
Shao Wan immediately understood what Fang Yilan wanted from Jinling Money House, and quickly ordered someone to deliver the other half of the account book.
Fang Yilan got what she wanted and no longer hid it from Shao Wan. She told her everything that had happened in Feng County before.
"Your sister is indeed still alive. She tried to find you at the time, but she found your old residence in ruins. People nearby said that your parents had passed away long ago, and you had left as well."
Shao Wan's eyes welled up with tears after hearing this. She said in great sorrow, "My sister... she got lost when we were playing on the street together as children. She begged me to buy her some candy, but as soon as I got the candy and turned around, she was gone. My parents became ill from longing for her, and died young due to depression. But I always feel that she is still alive. As long as I live, I will definitely find her..."
When she said this, she was already crying.
Fang Yilan's heart ached. She softly comforted him, "Now that you sisters are about to reunite, she will surely be very happy. Miss Shao, don't be sad anymore."
Shao Wan raised her hand to wipe away the tears from the corners of her eyes and forced a smile: "Thank you, General, for telling me. If it weren't for you, I'm afraid I would never know my sister's whereabouts in this lifetime."
Fang Yilan shook her head slightly, and said in a gentle tone: "Miss Shao, there is no need to thank me. I will send someone to pass on a message and take you to see her."
Shao Wan nodded heavily. She took a deep breath, tried to calm herself, and said earnestly, "General, if you need my help, please let me know. I will do my best to help you."
Fang Yilan raised the corners of her lips slightly: "Then thank you Miss Shao first."
...
Fang Yilan sent Shao Wan to Jingchanyuan and rode back to the mansion without disturbing the sisters' reunion.
Just as he arrived in front of the mansion, he saw a carriage parked in front of the mansion. The curtains of the carriage were opened, revealing Zhou Chuchu's slightly anxious face.
Zhou Chuchu saw Fang Yilan return and hurriedly stepped off the carriage. Her small face, wrapped in a plain cloak, was filled with worry as she asked, "Sister Yilan, I came to see you about my brother. He went out alone today, saying he had something to do and would be back tonight. But now it's late at night, and there's no news from him. I'm really worried."
"I heard someone on the street saw him and said they saw him with you, so I wanted to ask you if you knew where he went."
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Author's comment: [狗头] No prize guessing game: Who kidnapped Zhou Ting'an?
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