Chapter Fifteen: Overwhelmed by the High-Stakes Match
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Moreover, Bai Yu recalled that the young captain of the thousand-household unit had indeed been loudly demanding the "Along the River During the Qingming Festival" scroll at the time. However, after recognizing the other’s background, Bai Yu felt less tense. Had this happened when he first arrived in this era, he would have been terrified. A lowly figure caught by the Embroidered Uniform Guard might not even keep his life.
But now, Bai Yu had at least become someone who could converse with officials from the Investigation Department of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. If the other party was also from the Guard, communication would be easier. Although his connections in the capital were still insignificant, they provided some leverage for survival.
In a way, this was the meaning of struggling in a low-rights ancient society—not for anything else but for a sense of security. While analyzing the situation in his mind, Bai Yu took the initiative to speak, “I do not understand anything about ‘Along the River During the Qingming Festival.’ Why does this officer arrest me?”
Not understanding the situation, feigning ignorance was the safest course.
The young captain sneered, “You really don’t give up until you reach the Yellow River! Liu Cunyi, a nineteen-year-old idle soldier in the Capital Guard, was asking several calligraphy and painting merchants about the price of ‘Along the River During the Qingming Festival’ at the temple fair yesterday!”
Hearing this, Bai Yu couldn’t help but curse inwardly—how careless was this “brother”? He had just been told to keep a low profile and not think about selling the painting recently, and yet only two days later, he went to the temple fair asking about prices, exposing the clue!
If anyone in the Embroidered Uniform Guard really wanted to investigate this painting, they would surely have planted spies at major temple fairs, or these merchants were informants.
This was the price of ignorance; Liu probably didn’t realize the painting’s value and acted rashly. Bai Yu blamed himself for not explaining clearly out of fear of frightening Liu or for selfish reasons.
With this in mind, Bai Yu cautiously said, “Officer, you may arrest Liu Cunyi, I know nothing. Arresting me is useless.”
The young captain snapped, “You entered this courtyard without invitation and casually pushed open the door. That shows you are very familiar with Liu Cunyi—probably accomplices!”
From this, Bai Yu deduced that Liu Cunyi had not yet been caught—whether Liu escaped during the arrest or sensed something wrong and didn’t return home was unknown.
As for where the painting was hidden, Bai Yu certainly knew. Fearing theft in Liu’s shabby house, he had placed the scroll inside an iron box and buried it temporarily in the corner behind the house, planning to retrieve it after a few days.
Yet, as long as there was hope, Bai Yu was unwilling to hand over the painting—a human greed for vanity over possessing a national treasure.
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For the sake of survival, Bai Yu decisively revealed his background: “I am also a registered member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, usually acquainted with officials from the Investigation Department. I hope you will consider this for the sake of the department’s reputation...”
But the young captain was dismissive, mocking, “Do you think naming the Investigation Department will scare me?”
He then ordered his burly men, “Tie this person up and start with the whipping! Let’s see if he’ll confess!”
Whether Bai Yu was an accomplice or not, he would be beaten first and judged later.
Bai Yu was shocked—this man completely disregarded the Investigation Department! Within the Guard, the department’s name usually intimidated ninety percent of people, yet here it was useless.
If invoking the Investigation Department was ineffective, Bai Yu was truly out of options.
“Ah, I’m late!” someone else entered the courtyard, exclaiming in surprise.
Bai Yu caught sight of a figure dressed in a white robe—also an acquaintance, that ambiguous person neither clearly woman nor eunuch, whom he had met before at the Investigation Department’s tribunal during his first visit.
“How come it’s you?” The white-robed figure paused, surprised to see Bai Yu tied up and about to be whipped.
The young captain’s expression was complex as he asked flatly, “What? You want the painting too?”
The white-robed figure smiled after a pause, “I have no interest in paintings.”
The captain was clearly skeptical, “Then what are you doing in this rundown place?”
The white-robed figure pointed at Bai Yu, “Believe it or not, I came for this person.”
The captain looked at Bai Yu doubtfully, “He’s worthy?”
Though the remark was more insulting than harmful, Bai Yu, tied up as he was, almost felt like stepping forward for a fight.
The white-robed figure added, “Hand him over to me, and I’ll leave immediately—I speak and I act.”
The captain didn’t hesitate, “Today I can let him go—but only this once! If he’s connected to the painting, I won’t spare him next time!”
Bai Yu remained silent as the two powerful figures negotiated. It seemed the young captain was from a distinguished background, and the white-robed figure was his equal.
Even the Investigation Department’s officials appeared insignificant before these two.
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The white-robed figure brought guards and escorted Bai Yu out of the courtyard. Upon reaching the street corner, he teased Bai Yu, “You’re usually so brave—how come you ended up tied and about to be whipped?”
Bai Yu thought silently that the white-robed one was truly narrow-minded, still holding a grudge from the last time Bai Yu humiliated him with his quick wit. He doubted that this “rescue” was without ulterior motives.
Seeing Bai Yu silent, the white-robed figure grinned and asked, “Wasn’t it thrilling just now? Do you know who that captain was?”
Bai Yu could only say, “Seems he has a powerful background.”
The white-robed figure explained, “His name is Yan Hu. He is the illegitimate son of the Junior Grand Secretary Yan Shifan—no one knows which wild woman bore him. He now serves as captain of the Southern Town’s Pacification Office!”
Bai Yu was stunned—this was outrageous!
No wonder the young captain disregarded the Investigation Department; he truly had that privilege. An illegitimate son was still a son! Yan Shifan’s fearsome reputation was known from court officials to commoners alike.
Rumor had it even Prince Yu had to bribe Yan Shifan to get extra living expenses.
Yet Bai Yu maintained his composure, feigning innocence, “So what if he’s the Junior Grand Secretary’s son? He has no dealings with common folk like me.”
The white-robed figure scoffed, “Keep pretending! If Captain Yan can’t find the painting, he’ll come after you again for clues!
Your best bet is to stick with me; I can keep you safe!”
Bai Yu was speechless. He was just a small fry starting out, yet somehow always entangled in high-level affairs—he could hardly bear it!
Yesterday he worried about keeping distance from Lu Bing; today he was anxious about being targeted by Yan Shifan’s illegitimate son.
But then Bai Yu realized another problem: if Captain Yan’s background was so formidable, what kind of status did the white-robed figure, who could stand against him, hold?