FBC – Chapter 254 Abduction

“Stop!”

A sharp command rang out.

Zhou Chenyu, with a few men, drew their swords and surrounded them.

He looked at the unconscious Chu Huai and cupped his hands toward the commander. “Sir, this man is a guest of the Mu family. Please release him.”

The commander sneered dismissively, not taking Zhou Chenyu seriously at all.

“Manager Zhou, he snuck in from outside. I caught him, and I’ll have my men send him to the Kaifeng Prefecture immediately.”

Zhou Chenyu’s tone hardened. “I said he’s a guest of the Mu family. Release him!”

The commander’s smile turned cold. “He is not a guest of the Mu family, but a runaway favorite. His master is looking for him.”

Seeing that the commander was no longer hiding his hand, Zhou Chenyu laughed sharply. “So you’re Jiang Heir’s men? Could it be that today’s fire was just to take Chu Huai away?”

Even after the situation was laid out so clearly, the Fire Squad commander remained calm.

He sneered. “Manager Zhou, watch your mouth and your manners. This man is Chu Huai, not only Jiang Heir’s favorite, but also the culprit behind today’s assassination attempt on him. By coincidence, the fire broke out at the Duke Yong’s residence, so Jiang Heir entrusted me to find him and bring him back.”

“Ridiculous! You’re from the Fire Squad—why would Jiang Heir entrust a runaway favorite to you? Furthermore, Chu Huai is a well-known scholar on the government’s roster. Today at the Jinming Pool competition, he displayed his literary talent. Madam specifically invited him for his skills.

Jiang Heir calls him a favorite, but do you have any official documents to prove it?”

The commander frowned.

Zhou Chenyu continued, “Could it be that closing the Mu family’s main gate and blocking civilians wasn’t to burn the mansion, but to abduct someone—and failing at that?”

The commander wanted to speak, but suddenly noticed over a dozen people behind him. The Mu family had overpowered the Fire Squad guards at the gate, reclaiming it.

The black-clad men holding Chu Huai turned grim, raising a token. “How dare you! I am a colonel of the Imperial Guard, Tianwu Army!”

Zhou Chenyu sneered. “Even stranger. Tianwu Army soldiers cannot act without the emperor’s token. You, a single colonel, dare to storm the Duke Yong’s residence—what are you thinking?”

The black-clad man was about to speak when Zhou Chenyu interrupted again.

“I see. The Tianwu Army once belonged to the Yuan family, just purged, and now you colonels are hastily pledging allegiance to the Jiang family? How can you know this ship you’re on is reliable?”

The black-clad man’s face darkened.

The commander drew his sword in a flash.

Zhou Chenyu’s expression was fearless. He stepped forward, sword in hand. “Whether you’re Tianwu or Diwu Army, anyone who dares trespass on the Mu family estate can be killed without mercy!”

The black-clad man grabbed Chu Huai by the neck. “You want him? Then I’ll give you his corpse!”

Zhou Chenyu sneered. “This is the Duke Yong’s residence!”

Before he could finish, the black-clad man screamed in pain. His grip loosened, and both his arms went limp as a short crossbow bolt pierced his shoulder blades—precisely hitting the acupuncture points, leaving his arms powerless.

Someone pressed his shoulders down, and in an instant he was tied up tightly.

The commander gasped. “You—”

Before he could finish, he was shoved from behind, losing his balance and crashing face-first onto the stone slabs.

“You dare… ugh…”

Two strong guards quickly bound him and lifted him off the ground.

Zhou Chenyu patted his face with a smile. “You’ve got quite the nerve, setting fire to the Duke Yong’s residence, killing, abducting, and sneaking into the duke’s study. By my calculation, your heads won’t remain intact.”

Suddenly his smile vanished, and he waved his hand. “Take them all in.”

Zhou Chenyu instructed his men, “Find Zhao Dutou, the Fire Squad officer who fought the fire.”

Soon, a man with a soot-blackened face and singed hair rushed over. Seeing Zhou Chenyu, he respectfully cupped his hands. “Manager Zhou, are you looking for me?”

Zhou Chenyu recognized him. He noticed holes burned through his robe and the wounds on his skin. He patted his shoulder warmly. “Zhao Dutou, you’ve worked hard.”

The guards handed over a pouch containing fifty taels of silver.

Zhao Dutou grinned widely. “Thank you, Manager Zhou!”

Zhou Chenyu smiled. “You’ve all worked hard. Each brother will be rewarded with silver. Just register your names.”

Zhao Dutou’s eyes widened. “Is this for me alone?”

Zhou Chenyu nodded. “Yes. Each brother gets two taels.”

Zhao Dutou was astonished, his mouth hanging open.

“How’s the fire now?” Zhou Chenyu asked.

Zhao Dutou moved his mouth and replied, “It’s basically extinguished. The Mu family arrived, so naturally it went quickly.”

Zhou Chenyu nodded. “Any unusual signs?”

Zhao Dutou nodded. “Someone deliberately set the fire.”

He leaned close and whispered, “It must be Mu An. He stacked dry wood against the wall of the main courtyard and doused it in oil. This guy’s ungrateful—Duke Yong treated him like his own son.”

Zhou Chenyu had suspected as much.

“But…” Zhao Dutou frowned, glancing around, then whispered just to Zhou Chenyu, “If Mu An set it himself, why block his own gate with wood and oil? I feel this isn’t that simple.”

Zhou Chenyu relaxed.

“Hmm, we’ll probably need to report this to Kaifeng Prefecture. Madam will decide. You’ll need to provide a fire inspection report.”

Zhou Chenyu smiled knowingly. “You’ve been a Fire Squad officer for over ten years, right? Never promoted. If your report is well-written, Madam and the Old Madam can petition the emperor for you.”

Zhao Dutou was momentarily stunned, then understood.

His eyes sparkled as he looked around. “Hmm, where’s the commander? Wasn’t he watching the gate? And where’s Liu Dutou?”

He didn’t dare mention discovering the intruder with Liu Dutou—if the duke’s family blamed them, it would be a problem.

“Not sure. I only saw you personally leading the Fire Squad to fight the fire.”

Zhao Dutou, smart as he was, seemed to understand. He had no background, only hard work, which got him to the officer rank. But he couldn’t climb further because all the higher positions were occupied by aristocrats’ children who did nothing while they risked their lives.

Zhou Chenyu patted his shoulder. “Take care of the aftermath. I’ll check on the Old Madam and Madam.”

Zhao Dutou nodded knowingly.

Soon, the Fire Squad extinguished the last flames. Zhao Dutou and the Mu family servants carefully inspected the area and left.

Zhou Zilan personally handed each person two taels of silver at the gate and recorded their names.

The Fire Squad men were overjoyed. Two taels was half a year’s salary! Normally, they might get one tael if lucky. The Madam of the Duke Yong’s household was generous indeed.

Once they left, Zhou Zilan ordered the gates locked.

In the three rooms of the western corner courtyard, several people were locked up, with tongue guards in their mouths to prevent suicide or speech, and hands and feet bound tightly.

Over a dozen guards watched them.

Mu Junyan helped Gu Hua out of the secret chamber. Seeing bloodstains everywhere, she was startled.

“This…”

Mu Junyan reassured her, “It’s fine. It’s all resolved.”

Gu Hua’s face was pale as she nodded. “They were truly audacious.”

Mu Junyan smiled. “Maybe they were even bolder. The real show is yet to come. We’ll wait.”

Gu Hua held her chest nervously. “Is mother safe?”

“Don’t worry, she’s safe. Today we’ll deal with Mu An’s matters. We’ll go to Xuanyun Hall—mother is already waiting there.”

Gu Hua nodded. “It must be dealt with.”