Jianghu Qimen Lu

Chapter 30 Clear Distinction Between Gratitude and Grudges

Bai Shandian coldly laughed, "As a first-rank official of the imperial court, he actually dared to remove his own shackles. For that alone, he deserves to be imprisoned!" Hong Yueliang's heart sank, thinking to herself, "It's my recklessness that caused this trouble again! If I had known this would happen, I shouldn't have broken my father's shackles." She hurriedly said, "Lord Bai, you misunderstand. Actually, I used your imperial sword to cut open my father's shackles. My father refused to let me cut them, but I took it upon myself to do so! Then I told my father to escape, but he refused to comply and demanded that I stay and turn myself in." Bai Shandian drew his long sword, examined it carefully, and roared with great distress, "You damned female bandit! You actually used my imperial sword to cut that broken shackle! It's a desecration of a sacred object! If you break it, can you bear the consequences? Guards, seize her!" Several soldiers came over, immediately stripped her of her official robes, shackled her feet, put a wooden cangue on her, and put her on another prison cart!

"Lord Bai, may I say a word?" Hongchen, now completely devoid of his former arrogance and bureaucratic air, wore a mournful expression, managing to squeeze out a single tear from his narrow eyes. He pleaded pitifully, "What my daughter said just now is absolutely true! Lord Zhang was there too; he saw it all clearly. Ask him if you don't believe me, Lord Bai!" Before Bai Shandian could even speak, Zhang Kuang immediately seized the opportunity, saying, "Hey, don't talk nonsense, Hongchen! My soldiers and I saw it with our own eyes—you broke open the torture instruments yourself! We were afraid you'd escape, so I ordered my men to capture you and bring you to Lord Bai for judgment." De Hongchen cursed, "You arrogant bastard! We did have some disagreements before, but they were all trivial matters. You held a grudge and are now gloating and kicking me when I'm down! You're a real scoundrel!" Hong Yueliang, enraged, coldly retorted to Bai Shandian, "I've long heard of the Imperial Guard's secret agent, Lord Bai, for his meticulous thinking and efficient handling of cases. But seeing you today, I find you're nothing but a fraud!" Bai Shandian, unable to contain his anger, shouted, "How dare you! What do you mean?" Hong Yueliang smiled coldly and retorted, "Let me ask you, Lord Bai, how did you manage to break free of your own shackles and chains?" This remark drew a burst of laughter from the crowd. Bai Shandian felt his face turn pale and then red, a bitter taste in his mouth.

Xiang Quan stepped forward to smooth things over, smiling as she said, "Lightning, you're probably too angry to think straight today. Actually, Lord Hong is truly a good man. Not only did he not remove the torture devices himself, but he also risked his own life to devise this brilliant plan to lure the enemy in and capture them all! I saw it with my own eyes from the rooftop. After Hong Yueliang removed the torture devices, he didn't run away with her. Instead, he righteously and sternly advised his daughter to turn back from her wrong path. He didn't betray his original intentions; he prioritized the court and acted entirely according to our plan. Why didn't you ask what happened and instead arrested him?" Bai Lightning calmed down and thought about it carefully. He realized she was right. He thought, "It's all because of his daughter! She almost usurped my position and scared me away! How could I not be angry?" He had no choice but to order the soldiers to release Hong Chen.

Xiang Quan glanced at Hong Yue Liang and continued, "Actually, Hong Yue Liang didn't do anything particularly wrong. She told me a long-suppressed secret: her master was killed by Hei Tai Yang, and she tried every means to get close to him to avenge her master. Coincidentally, our 'Complete Book of Jianghu' was stolen by Hei Tai Yang. After a fierce battle, Hong Yue Liang finally killed him on Gushan Mountain, avenging her master and ridding the entire martial arts world of a great scourge. She also helped us reclaim the 'Complete Book of Jianghu'!" Bai Shan Dian was overjoyed upon hearing this. For the past few days, Hei Tai Yang had been like a mountain pressing down on his shoulders, making it hard for him to breathe. His martial arts skills were so high, somewhat strange and unorthodox, that he was often awakened by nightmares in the middle of the night—it was terrifying!

"Even so, today's scene was far too chaotic. Moreover, the imperial criminal Huoshaoyun and the brothel madam are truly dead, and so many ordinary people have been crushed to death in the streets. How can I explain this to the Emperor? Hongyueliang absolutely cannot be released! Not only can he not be released, but he must also be escorted to the capital on a chosen day and handed over to the Emperor for punishment!" Xiangquan thought about it again and realized that Hongyueliang was indeed the number one thief in the world. He must have committed countless thefts in his daily life! At this moment, how could it be explained in just a few words? Whether he was guilty or not, he would not get involved in this mess. He would leave it to His Majesty to decide! He said no more.

Bai Shandian suddenly turned to Zhang Kuang and said, "Lord Zhang, leave a squad of men to clean up the scene. Make sure it's spotless, preferably without leaving a trace! The rest of you, come back with me!" Zhang Kuang obediently agreed, selected a squad of men, and went to bury the body. Bai Shandian let out a long howl and led a large number of Green Standard Army soldiers, escorting Hong Yueliang, back to his residence in a grand procession.

Back at the General's Mansion, it was already dark. Hong Chen immediately prepared a sumptuous banquet to entertain Bai Shandian. The two sat down, and Bai Shandian, seeing Hong Chen personally pouring him wine, smiled slightly and said, "I should be apologizing for what happened today, how could I trouble Lord Hong to personally pour me wine?" Hong Chen smiled and said, "It's my duty, it's my duty! My daughter was too willful today, angering Lord Bai. Unexpectedly, not only did Lord Bai forgive her, but he also put her in an ordinary prison in Hangzhou. This truly surprised me, and I'm quite flattered!" Bai Shandian said seriously, "Actually, I can see that your daughter is indeed a filial and good child. I dare say: she..." "Even if you two old folks opened her cell door in the middle of the night, she wouldn't leave!" Hongchen was also somewhat moved, sighing and saying, "Actually, although the little girl is mischievous by nature, she's never been a bad person. For the sake of an elderly master, she has endured humiliation and hardship for so many years, without even saying a word to me or her mother. This... what kind of backbone is that? I'm ashamed of myself!" Suddenly rising from his seat, Bu Tong knelt before Bai Shandian, pleading, "Lord Bai, I hope that when you arrive in the capital, you will speak well of my daughter before the Emperor! Otherwise, my wife and I..." "How can we live?!" Bai Shandian noticed that Hong Chen was unusually addressing him as "your subordinate" all day, so he smiled and helped him up, comforting him, "Lord Hong, don't worry, the Emperor won't take your daughter's life! At most, she'll be exiled to Ningguta." Hong Chen rolled his eyes, somewhat disbelieving, and said, "Why? Why do you say that, Lord Bai?" Bai Shandian explained with a smile, "A few years ago in the palace, I reviewed your daughter Hong Yueliang's case file. It's said that although she committed countless major crimes, her victims were all extremely wicked and corrupt individuals, mostly supported by the local people, so she managed to blend in..." A resounding title emerged in the martial arts world—the Number One Thief Under Heaven! Judging by her astonishing aura, even the notorious bandit Black Sun had fallen into her hands. No wonder His Majesty once exclaimed: "If my Qing Dynasty had more extraordinary women like Red Moon, how could I not eradicate all the corrupt and wicked?" Hongchen couldn't help but smile bitterly, returning to her seat and saying in a trembling voice, "So, His Majesty isn't entirely against my daughter? Oh, that's good. I can finally relax!" In her excitement, she quickly toasted Bai Shandian with a cup of wine. The two then drank and chatted, thoroughly enjoying themselves until late into the night before finally parting ways.

The next morning, Bai Shandian was fast asleep at the inn when a servant rushed in to deliver a message: "Lord Bai, wake up! Someone from the Xiang residence is looking for you; they say it's urgent!" Bai Shandian, sound asleep, was furious at being disturbed. He slapped the servant across the face and roared, "Are you tired of living? How dare you disturb my peaceful sleep!" The servant, clutching his swollen cheek, knelt on the ground with a mournful expression and reported, "We heard from the Xiang residence that something terrible has happened there, and they need you to come personally!" Bai Shandian was startled and instantly sobered up. He shook his head vigorously, trying to clear his head, quickly dressed, jumped out of bed, and ordered, "Have that person wait in the main hall; I'll be there immediately!" The servant hurriedly got up and left.

Bai Shandian, dressed in his official robes, appeared dignified in the hall after tidying himself up. He saw Afu from the Xiang family approach and kneel to pay his respects. Bai Shandian sat in a grand chair beside the eight-immortal table, took a sip of his hot tea, and slowly asked, "Afu, what exactly happened at home? Why all the fuss?" Afu respectfully clasped his hands in a salute, his breathing rapid, and said, "Young master, our family's rare book, 'The Complete Book of Jianghu,' has gone missing again!"

"What?!" White Lightning jumped up in surprise.