The Beacon of Kyushu

As soon as Zhao Defang arrived at the garden, she saw Qingyu questioning Lou Mingli and others. Her words were not aggressive, but her face was really unfriendly, which frightened everyone to kneel on the ground and kowtow repeatedly, while kowtow, she also defended: "Miss, please believe us! Although we are low-class people, our hands are very clean. We are definitely not a thief, let alone stealing the prince's golden mace!"

Qing Yu insisted, "I want to believe you, but the facts are so that I cannot help but doubt you. You said that Taizu gave our prince the golden mace not just for one or two days, not just for one or two years, why didn't you come? The golden mace was fine, but it was lost when you came? Even if you didn't steal it, at least you are suspected of colluding with the thieves and committing the crime together!"

Lou Mingli knelt on the ground, almost crying because of her pressure, "Miss Qingyu, please be reasonable! People steal things for money or profit. The prince's golden mace is valuable, and the power it grants is limitless. But this thing is a treasure to the prince, but it is a death warrant to us! If we take it, we can neither sell it for money nor get an official position or a noble title. It will only anger the prince and the royal relatives, and ruin all our lives."

Qingyu felt that what Lou Mingli said made some sense, so he shouted into the theater, "Anian, is there a golden mace in the theater? If not, come out and we'll find another way."

"Okay!" Ah Nian responded from inside the shed, walked out quickly, shook his head at Qingyu and said, "Sister Qingyu, not only is there no golden mace in the shed, but there is nothing valuable either. I guess they really didn't steal the golden mace."

Qingyu nodded slightly and said to Lou Mingli: "Boss Lou, it was just a misunderstanding, I hope you don't mind. Now that such a big thing has happened in the palace, this play will probably not be performed. Why don't you..."

Zhao Defang understood that Qingyu meant to let them go, so as to avoid the government investigating and using these innocent people as scapegoats. But once they left, even the last possible clue would be cut off, and the matter would become a completely unsolved case. He hurriedly stepped forward and said, "Qingyu, Master Lou and the others cannot leave. As for when this play will be performed again, I will give you a reply after considering it."

Qing Yu nodded and said, "Master Lou, I wanted to let you go, but the prince has spoken, and I cannot disobey him. I have no choice but to ask you to stay in the palace for a little longer."

Lou Mingli was not very courageous, but he firmly believed that a person with a clear conscience had nothing to fear. Seeing that Zhao Defang would not let them leave, he was not too panicked. "Your Highness, I, Lou Mingli, guarantee you that your golden mace was definitely not stolen by our Yun Qingxiang. As long as you uphold justice and don't let innocent people like us die in vain, we will stay here until the end of time!"

Zhao Defang bowed and said, "Master Lou, I kept you here not because I doubt you, but because your troupe has many members, and you may be able to remember some clues that I have not noticed. Don't worry, I will never let the government execute you at will. When this case is solved, I will give you a generous gift as compensation, and I will ensure that you will have no worries about food and clothing for the rest of your lives."

Lou Mingli kowtowed several times and said gratefully, "Thank you, Your Highness. Thank you, Your Highness. If we think of any useful clues, we will report to you in a timely manner."

Zhao Defang waved his hand and asked everyone to go to the theater to rest. He walked into the pavilion next to him and sat on a stone chair, worrying. Qingyu knew that Zhao Defang was upset, and he couldn't think of a way to comfort him, so he just stood beside him without saying a word.

Liu E, however, fluttered her eyes and speculated, "Brother Zhao, besides the actors yesterday, the other two people who came were the Prince of Wei and the Prince of Guangping. Do you think they stole the golden mace while you were drunk?"

Zhao Defang shook his head without thinking. Just when he was about to say that this was impossible, an ominous premonition suddenly came to his mind, and his face turned paler than snow in an instant. "If...if it was done by Uncle Wang, he probably wanted to seize the throne with the golden mace and fulfill the three-transmission agreement in advance. If he really became the emperor, I am afraid he would definitely kill me for the sake of his descendants. If it was not Uncle Wang who did it, but my cousin, then it would be a sign that the government would take action against me after killing my father and brother, and I would be doomed!"

Liu E was still young and didn't quite understand the mystery, so she asked, "Brother Zhao, why did your golden mace get lost? Someone wanted to harm you. I don't quite understand the reason. Can you explain it to me?"

Zhao Defang felt an unprecedented fear at this moment, and he didn't care about Liu E's words at all, thinking about how to deal with it. Qingyu pulled Liu E away and explained in a low voice: "Anian, your father was the founding emperor of the Song Dynasty, the Emperor Taizu who was revered by all the people. He was very skilled in martial arts and in very good health, but he passed away in the heyday of the Spring and Autumn Period, so people have rumors that the current emperor poisoned Emperor Taizu to seize the throne. However, when the current emperor first ascended the throne, he showed all officials a will, which said that Emperor Taizu's original intention was for him to succeed to the throne, and that after the emperor's death, the throne would be passed to the King of Wei. What do you think, if the King of Wei really wanted to be the emperor, what would he do with the golden mace?"

Liu E seemed to understand and replied, "Brother Zhao said that Emperor Taizu once granted the golden mace the privilege of striking down tyrants and corrupt officials. If the King of Wei gets this treasure, he can kill the current emperor in the name of revenge for his brother and take his place. But if he really becomes emperor, he will surely worry about Brother Zhao and the emperor's princes rebelling, so he will definitely kill them just in case."

Qing Yu said, "That's right. If the King of Wei gets the golden mace, the prince will most likely be killed. But if the emperor gets the golden mace, the prince will definitely die."

Liu E thought for a moment and said, "Well... the emperor killed Brother Zhao's father, so he must be afraid that Brother Zhao will seek revenge on him. But Brother Zhao holds the golden mace all day long, so even if he is the emperor, he can't curse Brother Zhao. The emperor may be very smart and understand that if he wants to get rid of Brother Zhao, he must make him lose the golden mace first. That's why he deliberately took the opportunity of watching a play yesterday to let his two princes steal things so that he can harm Brother Zhao in the future. But if this is really the case, wouldn't Brother Zhao be in great danger?" Qingyu sighed and said, "Alas, if not, why would the prince be so worried?"

Liu E was so anxious that she became restless. "Brother Zhao was so good to me. I can't just stand by and watch him get killed! Sister Qingyu, please think of a way to save Brother Zhao!"

Qing Yu said helplessly: "Anian, of course I want to save the prince, but I really don't have the ability. Looking at the world today, there may be only one person who can save the prince. Unfortunately, he has been either practicing martial arts or living in Taihu Lake for many years. He rarely shows up in Tokyo. What can I do..."

Liu E held on to a glimmer of hope and asked, "Sister Qingyu, please tell me who this person is!"

Qing Yu pondered and said, "This man is well-educated in both literature and martial arts, and has a dignified appearance. Not only is his family background extremely noble, but what is even more rare is that he has a kind and chivalrous heart. If you really want to know who he is, you might as well ask your brother Zhao."

Liu E ran back to Zhao Defang curiously and shouted, "Brother Zhao, who is this great hero that Sister Qingyu mentioned? I must find him and ask him to save you no matter what!"

Zhao Defang smiled bitterly, slowly stood up, and walked out of the pavilion. The fear just now had turned into full of sadness and loneliness. He spoke while walking, as if answering Liu E's question, but also as if muttering to himself, "The only one who can save me in this world is the eldest son of the official family, His Royal Highness the King of Chu of the Song Dynasty - Zhao Yuanzuo!"

Liu E looked at Zhao Defang's receding back and murmured, "If the emperor really wanted to harm Brother Zhao, would his son really stand up to uphold justice?"

"He will." Qingyu walked to Liu E, touched her head, and then said to Zhao Defang: "Prince, where are you going? If you leave Tokyo now, I'm afraid the emperor will be suspicious, and everything will be worse!"

Zhao Defang paused and said, "Qingyu, if I leave now, I can still save my life. If I continue to stay in Tokyo, I will surely die. One hour after I leave, remember to send two servants to the palace and Kaifeng Prefecture to report the case. If the emperor and the King of Wei ask about my whereabouts, tell them that I went outside the city to look for the golden mace. Qingyu, you must do as I say. I entrust my life to you."

Liu E no longer cared about the deep meaning behind Zhao Defang's action. She ran forward and hugged him from behind, choking with sobs, "Brother Zhao, things must not be as bad as we thought. You will be fine. Tell me where the King of Chu lives, and I will go find him right away. As long as he is willing to save you, I will have no regrets even if I kneel down and die in front of him!"

Zhao Defang felt warm in his heart, and almost cried, "Anian, don't worry, I will be fine. I will be back soon. During this time, you must listen to Sister Qingyu and don't be willful, okay?"

Liu E nodded vigorously, "Brother Zhao, please come back safely. I will wait for you in Nanqing Palace. After you leave, I will study hard with Sister Qingyu. When you come back one day, I will sing all the new songs I have learned to you."

Zhao Defang smiled, turned around, and kissed Liu E's forehead affectionately. Although Liu E was young, she was like a daisy that was about to bloom in the morning, extremely beautiful and pure. Zhao Defang wished that he could stay and stay by her side forever, but now he had to go. No matter how reluctant he was, no matter how much he missed her, he could only hide it in his heart.

After a while, Zhao Defang finally removed his lips from Liu E's head, waved to her reluctantly, and then said goodbye and left. Liu E was so reluctant to let Zhao Defang leave her that she subconsciously chased after him, but she was stopped by Qingyu after only a few steps.

She was younger than Qingyu, so she was naturally not as strong as Qingyu. Even if she struggled hard, it was in vain. She could only watch Zhao Defang's shadow silently, gradually disappearing from her sight. She was helpless. Thousands of words came to her mind, but in the end, she could only whisper two words - take care. (End of this chapter)