If I, a death row inmate, am not to become a demon, am I to become a member of the Imperial Guard?

Zhou Yang withdrew his gaze.

He closed his folding fan and strolled downstairs.

Behind me stands a tower overlooking the entire city. Below me stretches the most bustling street in Yangzhou.

The place he was going to was called Yingxianlou.

This place has a grand name, and the food prices are high too. It's not something the average person can afford.

Zhou Yang was accompanied by a junior officer named Zhao Liu. He was brought out from the Anyang Garrison of the Embroidered Uniform Guard; he was quick and efficient, and also tight-lipped.

Zhao Liu followed behind Zhou Yang, looking at the magnificent facade of Yingxian Tower with its crane carvings, and his calves started to cramp.

"Sir, are we really going to eat here?"

Zhou Yang didn't turn around, and kept walking.

I'm hungry.

In short, Zhao Liu dared not say another word.

Upon entering the building, the waiter, with his sharp eyes, immediately greeted Zhou Yang with a beaming smile upon seeing his attire and Zhao Liu's menacing aura.

"Sir, how many of you are there? Would you prefer a private room or the main hall upstairs?"

Zhou Yang glanced around.

The hall was packed. The storyteller was telling the story of "Wu Song Fighting the Tiger," banging his gavel loudly. Merchants from all over the country, local gentry, and people from all walks of life filled the hall.

"Find a prominent spot in the lobby."

The waiter was taken aback.

The customers who usually come here prefer quiet and seclusion. But this guy, he just picks any lively place.

He didn't dare ask any more questions and quickly led the way to a seat at an octagonal table near the stage.

"Please come in, sir. The menu is here."

Zhou Yang didn't take the menu. He leaned back in his armchair and unfolded his fan with a "whoosh".

"No need to look anymore."

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly throughout the entire hall. Even the storyteller paused and glanced in their direction.

"Bring one of each of your Yingxianlou's signature dishes. Steamed shad, crab meat lion's head meatballs, braised shredded dried tofu, Yangtze River knife fish..."

With each dish he announced, the waiter's face paled a little more.

Sweat was already beading on Zhao Liu's forehead.

My goodness, this isn't a meal, it's like they're going to empty out the kitchen of Yingxianlou!

Zhou Yang was still reciting the names of the dishes, just like reciting the names of dishes, without pausing.

"For wine, bring me a jar of 30-year-old 'Daughter Red'."

After finishing his report, he put his fan on the table and looked at the waiter.

"Did you hear me?"

The waiter's tongue lolled out as he stammered, "Clear...cleared. Sir, you...you've got quite a bit of money."

Zhou Yang smiled.

He took out a silver note from his pocket and casually slapped it on the table.

The silver note was issued by the Baoyuan Bureau in the capital, with a face value of one thousand taels.

The gleaming silver was dazzling.

"Here's all for you. You can adjust the price later if you finish it, or pay the difference later."

With a "plop".

A fat man at the next table, who was drinking tea, suddenly spat out his entire mouthful. He stared in disbelief at the silver note, then at Zhou Yang, thinking he had run into some unreasonable spendthrift.

The entire hall fell silent instantly.

The storyteller's mouth was half-open; he had forgotten his lines. The erhu player's fingers were frozen on the strings.

All eyes were focused on the Eight Immortals table.

A silver note is more useful than a storyteller's gavel.

Zhou Yang, however, seemed not to notice. He poured himself a cup of tea and sipped it slowly.

Zhao Liu sat opposite him, feeling extremely uncomfortable. He felt as if countless needles were pricking him from all directions.

The dishes were served quickly.

The waiter practically jogged, followed by a long line of waiters carrying trays. Each time a dish was served, Zhou Yang would only glance at it, then wave his hand, signaling Zhao Liu to start eating.

He himself ate very little.

He seemed more like a spectator.

Watch how the people in this hall went from shock to envy, then to speculation, and finally to awe.

This is the effect he wanted.

Money should be spent wisely.

Sometimes, spending a thousand taels of silver can buy information that ten people couldn't find out. Because it is information in itself.

It was telling everyone: A wealthy and powerful man of unknown stature had arrived in Yangzhou. Anyone who wanted to do business with him would have to prove themselves.

Just then, the local gentry-looking men at the next table began to talk in hushed tones.

Their voices weren't loud, but in the quiet hall, Zhou Yang could hear them clearly.

"Who is this young master? He is so generous."

"Judging from his attire, he doesn't look like someone from Jiangnan. He seems more like someone from the capital."

"From the capital? You'd better be careful. The water in the capital is even muddier than the canals in Yangzhou."

One of the elderly men, with a goatee, lowered his voice and said mysteriously, "Speaking of the capital, I just remembered something. Have you heard? Jade Maiden of Drunken Moon Pavilion just returned from the capital a couple of days ago."

"Jade Maiden?"

"That's right. I heard she met quite a few important people during her trip back to the capital. Even the newly appointed Prime Minister Li sent someone to deliver gifts."

The goat-beard smacked his lips.

"This Lady Yu is the real big shot in Yangzhou. On the surface, she's just a restaurant owner. But she knows everything that's going on in the city's underworld. Even Yan Qi of the Canal Gang and the remnants of the Heavenly Principle Sect have to give her some face."

Another young man chimed in, "I heard my father say that Lady Yu has a network. An intelligence network that can cover the entire Yangzhou. As long as you pay the price, she can get you not only information about what each family ate for dinner, but also government secrets."

"Shh! Keep your voice down! Talking about her will get you your head!"

Zhou Yang paused slightly in the hand holding the teacup.

Jade Maiden. Drunken Moon Pavilion.

interesting.

His targets in Yangzhou were the Grand Canal Gang and the Heavenly Principle Sect. Now, a third force has appeared out of nowhere: a seemingly neutral intelligence broker with immense influence.

This game of chess has become more complicated.

It's also more fun now.

After finishing his meal, he didn't touch the main dishes. He simply paid the bill with a silver note, which actually cost him less than three hundred taels. The waiter respectfully returned the rest of the money.

Zhou Yang confiscated it.

"Here you go."

He stood up, and with Zhao Liu in tow, walked gracefully out of Yingxian Tower amidst the awe-inspiring gazes of the entire hall.

……

at the same time.

The capital city, a thousand miles away.

At the foot of the imperial city stands a newly renovated mansion. Above the gate hangs a plaque with three large characters—Prime Minister's Residence.

Li Wei had just come out of the palace. He hadn't had time to change out of his official robes, but his face was filled with barely suppressed anger.

In the study stood a eunuch dressed in black.

"Prime Minister, please don't be angry. That old fox, Wang An, the Minister of Revenue, has always been a close ally of Zhang Juzheng. It's perfectly normal for him to oppose you."

Li Wei slammed his fist on the desk.

The brush, ink, paper, and inkstone on the table all jumped.

"Normal? I just took office and wanted to purge Zhang Juzheng's old clique and rectify the court. Wang An jumped out and used the empty treasury as an excuse! He's obstructing me! He's challenging the new emperor!"

He pointed to a pile of memorials on the ground.

"These memorials impeaching Zhang Juzheng's cronies are all being held by the Ministry of Revenue! What did Wang An say? He said that pulling one hair could affect the whole situation, and that if they were to be investigated now, it could cause turmoil in the court! He's protecting those people!"

The eunuch in black bowed and said in a shrill voice, "Your Excellency, Wang An is in charge of the Ministry of Revenue, and all the money and grain in the country are in his hands. It's not wise to confront him head-on. We must find a way to bypass him."

Li Wei paced back and forth in the room, his face grim.

He worked so hard to get to where he is today, and he will not allow anyone to stand in his way.

Although Zhang Juzheng fell from power, the influence he left behind was deeply entrenched, especially in the Six Ministries and local areas. Wang An was the toughest rock among them.

"A way?" Li Wei sneered. "What way? A way to make him shut up obediently?"

The eunuch in black rolled his eyes, leaned forward, and whispered, "Prime Minister, you've forgotten, you still have a card in your hand."

"What brand?"

"Zhou Yang".

Li Wei paused in his steps.

He remembered that young man. The one who had caused chaos in Anyang County, the one who even brought down Commander Chen.

"Him? He's in Yangzhou carrying out the Emperor's secret decree. To touch him would be..."

"Your Majesty misunderstands," the eunuch in black quickly waved his hand. "It's not about harming him, it's about using him. Although Zhou Yang is a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, he and Qin Shuang's group have long been sidelined by Commander Chen and have nowhere to stand. He's just an unwanted pawn now. The Emperor is using him only to have him investigate the Canal Gang's money. A man like him has power, but no connections. He's best suited for doing some... shady things."

Li Wei sat down, tapping his fingers on the table.

He got it.

Wang An was an impregnable force in the capital. But his followers weren't limited to the capital. He also had people in the provinces.

Jiangnan, in particular, was the Ming Dynasty's money bag and the territory that Wang An and other old party officials had cultivated for many years.

"You mean, you want Zhou Yang to cause Wang An some trouble in Jiangnan?"

"Adding to their troubles is a minor matter," the eunuch in black chuckled. "We can have him 'help' investigate the shady accounts of those former Zhang faction members in Jiangnan. Once we find out, even if Wang An has extraordinary connections, he won't be able to protect them. Then, Prime Minister, you can use these matters against him and see how he dares to challenge you!"

Li Wei's eyes lit up.

this is a good idea.

Zhou Yang was in Jiangnan, far from the emperor's reach. He was ruthless and unscrupulous, and also carried the title of Imperial Guard. Sending him to investigate was the perfect choice.

"But will he listen to me?"

"Yes, he will." The eunuch in black said confidently. "He's a smart man and knows how to make choices. Your Excellency, you only need to send someone a letter to subtly hint at resolving his 'identity' issue. He'll understand."

Li Wei nodded.

"Alright. We'll do as you say. Bring me the pen and ink!"

He personally spread out the paper, picked up his pen, and began to write. The letter contained little information, was vague, and was full of hints.

After finishing writing, he sealed the letter and handed it to a trusted officer in a flying fish uniform.

"This is an urgent message, delivered to Zhou Yang in Yangzhou. Remember, deliver it to him personally."

"Yes, sir!"

The captain received the order and disappeared into the night like a black lightning bolt.

……

Yangzhou, on the shore of Slender West Lake.

A painted boat rests quietly in the middle of the lake.

Zhou Yang sat at the bow of the boat, holding a fishing rod, fishing.

The lake surface shimmered, and the evening breeze carried the scent of water and lotus blossoms.

Zhao Liu knelt obediently in the cabin, not daring to utter a sound.

He had no idea what the master was up to. After leaving Yingxian Tower, they rented a boat, saying they wanted to go fishing. But almost an hour had passed, and they hadn't caught a single fish; the master, on the other hand, was staring intently at the lake.

Suddenly, a figure darted out from the willow grove on the shore.

The man was incredibly fast; his toes touched the lake surface several times, and like a bird returning to its nest, he landed silently at the stern of the pleasure boat.

The newcomer was dressed in a flying fish robe and wore an embroidered spring knife at his waist; he was a messenger from the capital.

He walked behind Zhou Yang, knelt down on one knee, and presented a letter with both hands.

"Commander Zhou, a letter from the Prime Minister."

Zhou Yang didn't even turn his head.

He looked at the float and simply gave a faint "hmm".

Zhao Liu was terrified. When did this person arrive? He hadn't even noticed!

The messenger put down the letter, said no more, turned around, and disappeared into the night with a few leaps.

It was as if it had never existed.

Zhou Yang then reeled in his fishing rod and slowly picked up the letter.

The envelope was unsigned, with only a wax seal bearing the image of an auspicious cloud.

It is Li Wei's private seal.

He opened the letter; the paper was thin, but the handwriting was strong.

He read very slowly, word by word.

The letter didn't mention any specific tasks, only that Yangzhou was a chaotic place and he should be careful. It also mentioned that the capital was not peaceful recently, and some people were always trying to muddy the waters.

Finally, the letter ended with: "I hope you will make good use of your 'old acquaintances,' which may help you achieve more with less effort."

"Old acquaintance".

Zhou Yang's fingertips lightly traced the words "old acquaintance".

He understood what that meant.

Who are these so-called "old acquaintances"? Are they the former members of the Embroidered Uniform Guard who were also ostracized? Or... someone else entirely?

Li Wei was implying to him that he could disregard the emperor's secret orders and extend his reach further.

Go investigate Zhang Juzheng's old associates in Jiangnan.

This is an opportunity.

It's also a trap.

If I agree, I'll owe Li Wei a favor, and I'll inevitably be controlled by him in the future. If I don't agree, Li Wei is now the prime minister, and if I offend him, I'll find it difficult to move an inch in court.

Zhou Yang's face was expressionless.

He folded the letter and put it back in the envelope.

Then he stood up and walked to the side of the boat.

The evening breeze ruffled the hem of his clothes.

He looked towards the direction of Zuiyue Tower in the distance, where it was brightly lit and the sounds of string and wind instruments could be faintly heard.

He glanced again in the direction of the Grand Canal Gang's headquarters, where it was pitch black and lifeless.

Two paths lay before us.

Should we take direct action against Yan Qi, the "River-Turning Dragon," and complete the Emperor's mission? Or should we first meet with that mysterious Jade Lady and, incidentally, investigate the black accounts Li Wei requested?

Or, can both be done simultaneously?

He didn't think about it anymore.

He simply raised his hand and tore the envelope in his hand into pieces.

The scraps of paper, like a flock of white butterflies, fluttered in the air for a moment before falling into the lake.

Soon, it was swallowed by the lake and disappeared.

After doing all this, he turned around and said something to Zhao Liu.

"Pack up your fishing rods and head back to the inn."

His voice was calm, revealing no emotion.

But those eyes, under the moonlight, seemed deeper and colder than the lake water.