The Beacon of Kyushu

Zhao Tingmei thought about it for a long time, but still couldn't figure out how to ask for help. Could it be that such a famous thief in the underworld would walk into a trap like a mouse?
He could only say: "Nephew, can you explain the plan in more detail? Otherwise, I really don't know how to cooperate with you."

Zhao Yuanzuo whispered in Zhao Tingmei's ear, "First, from tomorrow onwards, all teams searching for the golden mace inside and outside Tokyo will stop searching, giving the thieves the illusion that we have given up the search. We must prepare another fake golden mace within two days. It doesn't have to be exactly the same, but it has to be at least 70% similar. If the style is more exquisite and gorgeous than the original, it would be the best. As long as we have this fake golden mace, I can stage a brotherly reunion with Master Lou and reveal the location of the fake golden mace to the thieves. Finally, I will personally catch the thief and bring Ying Fei, the master thief who has been roaming the world for more than a decade, to justice!"

Zhao Tingmei seemed to understand Zhao Yuanzuo's plan, but it was not difficult for him to understand what he needed to do, so he assured without saying anything: "Nephew, isn't that all? Don't worry, your uncle will definitely do it for you. As for whether you can catch Ying Fei, it all depends on you!"

Zhao Yuanzuo knew his father Zhao Guangyi very well, and understood his uncle's concerns even more. He patted Zhao Tingmei on the shoulder and said, "Uncle, whether this matter succeeds or not, I will never let my father use this as an excuse to harm you. If my father insists on not doing it, I will protect you even if I sacrifice my life!"

Zhao Tingmei felt relieved after hearing this, and the smile on his face became brighter. "Thank you, nephew. Thank you, nephew. As long as you say this, even if Uncle Wang lets Ying Fei chop off his head, it will be worth it!"

Zhao Yuanzuo smiled and shook his head. "Uncle Wang, let alone you are my uncle, even if you are just my friend, you and I have lived together for so many years, how can I stand by and watch you in trouble? Well, Uncle Wang, just put your heart at ease."

Zhao Tingmei laughed and said, "Hahaha, your uncle loves you for a reason, for a reason! Well, you still have so many things to do, so your uncle will take his leave first." He turned around and was about to leave when Zhao Yuanzuo suddenly called him, "Uncle Wang, please ask Mr. Lou to come to me before you leave. Now the success or failure depends on him. If I don't give him a few words of advice, there is no guarantee that there won't be mistakes. Rumor has it that Ying Fei is extremely cunning. If you are not careful, everything will be lost."

"Okay, I'll call you right away!" Zhao Tingmei responded, and strode out of the bedroom. His expression was no longer anxious, but calm. There were not many people in this world that Zhao Tingmei could trust, but Zhao Yuanzuo was definitely one of them, and the only one he could trust forever.

Zhao Tingmei had been gone for a long time before Lou Mingli finally arrived at the Chu Palace. He was born in a lowly family. Even if he was famous, he was still just a lowly person. How could he not be restrained in front of His Royal Highness the King of Chu? "I... I have seen His Royal Highness. May His Royal Highness live a thousand years, a thousand years, a thousand thousand years!"

Zhao Yuanzuo waved his hand and said, "Boss Lou, I have heard of your great name for a long time. I wonder if you are willing to lend me a hand this time? If you can do a good job, I will definitely benefit from you when the case is solved."

Lou Mingli smiled and said, "Of course I am willing to do so, but I am not very knowledgeable and I am afraid that I don't have the ability to help Your Highness!"

Zhao Yuanzuo said, "Master Lou, I heard that your ventriloquism is the best in the world. I wonder if you can imitate the Eighth Prince's voice? If you can, learn a few lines in front of me. If not, I will have to ask someone else to help you."

Lou Mingli was startled and said hesitantly: "Your Highness, the Eighth Prince is the son of the Emperor Taizu, and I am just an actor who is not worthy of being on stage. I would not dare to do that even if I had a hundred courages..." Zhao Yuanzuo frowned and pretended to be angry, "Why, the Eighth Prince is the son of the Emperor Taizu, so I am not the son of an official? If I ask you to learn, you should learn. If you learn well, you will be rewarded. If you don't learn well, you will be beheaded!"

When Lou Mingli heard that there was a reward, he was overjoyed and said with a smile on his face, "Haha, Your Highness, just imitate the Eighth Prince's way of speaking. That's easy! Since you insist that I learn, then I will learn. I will say a few words and see if they sound right to you!"

Zhao Yuanzuo nodded slightly and said, "Okay, go ahead and learn it."

Lou Mingli cleared his throat and changed his high-pitched voice into the lazy, casual and noble sound of the Eighth Prince. "Cousin, do you think we should visit Bianhe Street today or go to Qionglin Garden for a drink? What, you want to tell me? Why don't we ask Yun Qingxiang and the other actors to perform for us for three days and three nights? It would be a real treat. Whoever doesn't listen will regret it for the rest of his life!"

Zhao Yuanzuo laughed and said, "Boss Lou, not only did you imitate the voice very well, you also imitated the Eighth Prince's dandyism 100%. But if the three-day and three-night show really goes on, I'm afraid the actors under your command will die of exhaustion on the stage."

Lou Mingli grinned and said, "Working to death is a small matter, making money is a big matter! As long as His Highness is willing to reward us with money, even if it means taking our lives, we will not say a word!"

Zhao Yuanzuo whispered a few words in Lou Mingli's ear, and then said: "Master Lou, you should have heard about the theft of the golden mace. Although it was not done by you, Yun Qingxiang, it will be difficult to get away without investigation. The plan I have set up also happens to need the help of a ventriloquist like Master Lou. However, the thief is fierce and has superb martial arts skills. If it succeeds, you will be safe. If it fails, you may really be in danger of your life. Do you dare to take risks for this king, for the Song Dynasty, and for the world?"

Lou Mingli looked embarrassed, and finally mustered up the courage to say, "Your Highness... Your Highness, there is a saying that goes, 'People die for money, and birds die for food.' I am not afraid of death, but you just want to give me money after the task is completed?"

Zhao Yuanzuo was startled, then nodded and said, "Give it to you. I will give you as much as you want! If I can't afford it, I will use the financial resources of the Song Dynasty to make up for it. What do you think?"

Lou Mingli knelt on the ground and kowtowed repeatedly, "Thank you, Your Highness! As long as you are willing to give me money, I will not hesitate to sacrifice my life! Just tell me what you need me to do, and I will do anything for you. For the sake of the Song Dynasty, I will die ten thousand times without complaint. If I frown, I am not a hero!"

Zhao Yuanzuo smiled happily, looking past Lou Mingli who was kneeling on the ground, and looking straight at the crescent moon in the sky. The moonlight tonight is very bright, curved and thin like a golden hook, but the visible "hooks" in the sky never catch fish, while the invisible "hooks" in the world often yield a good harvest. Now that Zhao Yuanzuo has set up the bait and hidden the golden hook, will the thief really take the bait as promised? (End of this chapter)