Chapter 57: The Second Entrance to the Palace is Complete

"My lord, you are looking for me?"

Fang Xu arrived very quickly.

Throughout the entire Brocade Guard, if Chen Kan still had a trusted confidant, it was definitely not Huang Gou'er, whom he had known the earliest.

Instead, it was this Fang Xu, who had once saved Chen Kan's life.

Ever since he passively broke away from Li Yan's command and switched his allegiance to Chen Kan, it meant that Fang Xu could henceforth only bind himself tightly to Chen Kan—rising together and falling together.

Chen Kan beckoned to Fang Xu with a somewhat distracted expression.

Fang Xu approached a little closer, not quite understanding.

"Go immediately to the residence of the Minister of Personnel, and tell my teacher that he must exert some pressure on the Ministry of Punishments. I need to get out urgently now, and besides..."

Fang Xu nodded. "Rest assured, my lord, your subordinate will go and handle it right away."

...

At dusk, a young eunuch stepped out of the palace gates and headed towards the Embroidered Uniform Guard's imperial prison.

The young eunuch's name was Song Xin, and his purpose in going to the imperial prison was to release an audacious fellow.

The young eunuch shook his head all the way there. He could not understand why so many people had witnessed that man burning down the estate of the deposed Prince of Jin, yet the Ministry of Punishments had told His Majesty that there was insufficient evidence and the case could not be established.

Could it be that the Ministry of Punishments was bending the law for personal gain?

Then why would His Majesty agree with the Ministry of Punishments and release that man without charges?

He couldn't figure it out; he simply couldn't make sense of it.

Fortunately, he was only a minor eunuch, and such matters had nothing to do with a lowly person like him.

Arriving at the imperial prison, Song Xin saw the man he was about to set free.

He was staying in the imperial prison, but unlike other prisoners, his cell was equipped with various delicacies, a bed, and bedding as white and pristine as new.

The imperial prison cell he lived in was actually better than his own quarters in the imperial palace.

For a moment, Song Xin doubted his outlook on life.

However, bearing the Emperor's command, he did not dare to be negligent.

Led by several Embroidered Uniform guards, he stepped into the clean and tidy cell and called out in a shrill voice, "There is an imperial decree!"

The young eunuch's sharp voice startled Chen Kan out of his deep contemplation.

Chen Kan looked at the young eunuch and a smile appeared on his face.

No matter how nice the imperial prison was, having stayed there for more than half a month, Chen Kan was thoroughly sick of it.

He had to admit that Fang Xiaoru's operational efficiency was indeed fast; Chen Kan had thought he would have to wait at least until tomorrow.

"Your criminal subject Chen Kan listens to the imperial edict."

Naturally, there was no incense table or similar items in the cell; all Chen Kan could do was kneel in the direction of the Forbidden City.

Fortunately, the young eunuch didn't care about these superficialities, and raising his voice, he proclaimed: "The Ministry of Punishments has concluded that the case regarding the suspect Chen Kan burning down the estate of the deposed Prince of Jin lacks sufficient evidence and will not be established. Chen Kan is to be acquitted of all charges and reinstated to his original official post."

"Long live our Emperor, long live, long live our Emperor!"

Although he knew that Zhu Di throwing him into prison was meant to protect him, upon hearing that he was acquitted, Chen Kan still felt a stirring of excitement.

"Entering the palace twice," the cycle was complete.

After sending the young eunuch away, Chen Kan's eyes instantly filled with a fierce chill as he shouted with full vigor, "Someone come! Fetch my official uniform and saber!"

Swiftly changing into his attire, that dashing, handsome, and debonair Embroidered Uniform Guard investigator and commander Chen Kan was back.

Once out of the imperial prison, the first thing Chen Kan needed to do was find that fellow Li Long.

Because within the entire Embroidered Uniform Guard, the only person currently qualified to interrogate Zhu Jixi was this fellow.

At the same time, in Ji Gang's absence, only this fellow Li Long could command the remaining Embroidered Uniform guards.

"Is Commander-in-Chief not in the yamen?"

Hurrying out of the imperial prison, Chen Kan came to Li Long's room only to find it empty.

"The Commander-in-Chief has already finished his shift."

A trace of bitterness appeared in the eyes of the on-duty Embroidered Uniform guard.

Chen Kan was stunned. "At a juncture like this, what shift is he finishing?"

Yet, upon second thought, given Li Long's temperament, it wasn't all that strange.

After all, he possessed a special status, and sometimes he wouldn't even give Ji Gang the time of day.

Fang Xu asked, "My lord, shall we go to the Duke's Mansion?"

"No need, I know where he is."

Chen Kan shook his head, looking at Fang Xu as he gave his orders: "Go find Shi Wen and have him lead men to guard the imperial prison well. Ensure the personal safety of the officials brought in today without fail. Furthermore, take some men and go capture a few more officials—regardless of whether they are suspected or not, the more the better, the faster the better. Ideally, grab a few high-ranking officials of the second or third rank or above, but remember, do not harm them."

Fang Xu froze, standing rooted to the spot without moving, his face instantly turning pale.

*Are you even listening to what sort of nonsense you're uttering?*

The Embroidered Uniform guards were arrogant indeed, but officials of the second and third ranks—were those people you could just snatch away on a whim?

Seeing this, Chen Kan frowned, realizing that the time he had spent in the Embroidered Uniform Guard was still too short for him to truly bring his subordinates under his absolute command.

Yet, things had reached this point, and Chen Kan had no time to spare for anything else.

He deliberately put on a stern face and said, "What? Does my word no longer carry weight within the Embroidered Uniform Guard?"

"Your subordinate doesn't mean that, but..."

"I have no time to discuss the deeper meaning behind this with you right now; you need only follow orders."

Chen Kan rudely cut off Fang Xu's protests, then strode out and headed toward the Qinhuai River.

Left behind in the same spot, Fang Xu wore an expression of utter conflict. He had to capture high-ranking officials while simultaneously ensuring their personal safety—such an order was nothing short of explosive in his brief career as an Embroidered Uniform guard.

Yet he could not afford to disobey Chen Kan's command.

After all, no matter how short a time this lord had been here, he was ultimately a man who could single-handedly bring down monumental figures like the Prince of Jin. If he were to defy him, wiping out a centurion would take him less than the blink of an eye.

Torn for a long time, Fang Xu stamped his foot and still hurried toward the drill grounds with a dark and dismal expression.

...

Based on Chen Kan's understanding of Li Long, going straight to the Duke's Mansion would certainly not yield him.

However, with so many pleasure houses lining the banks of the Qinhuai River, Chen Kan wasn't certain which one he would be in.

Yihong Pavilion? Weicui Pavilion?

Arriving at the entrance of Yihong Pavilion, before the procuress could even rush out to welcome him, Chen Kan raised his tally badge high in the hand.

"The Embroidered Uniform Guard is on official business, all bystanders step aside."

The procuress was startled by Chen Kan's imposing manner and hurriedly cried out with a mournful expression, "Oh, my lord, the business we run here is entirely legitimate."

"Is the Duke of Cao inside?"

"The Duke of Cao?"

The procuress was taken aback, then shook her head repeatedly.

"Not here, not here. Lord Li hasn't come here in quite a long time."

Hearing the procuress say this, Chen Kan turned on his heel and left; he didn't believe the procuress would dare to deceive him.

Weicui Pavilion, Yanlai Pavilion, Chunhua Pavilion, Qiuyue Pavilion...

Having searched several pleasure houses in a row without finding Li Long, Chen Kan felt somewhat depressed.

Could this fellow Li Long have turned over a new leaf?

Seeing the sky gradually darkening, Chen Kan decided to return to the yamen first and figure things out.

At least those officials wouldn't lose an ounce of flesh in the imperial prison; the worst that could happen was they would spend a few more days residing in the big jail.

Three square meals provided without any forced labor—they were getting off easy.

Chen Kan readied himself to return to the yamen, but a sudden burst of quarreling drifting over from a painted boat in the distance caught his attention.