Ming Dynasty: Zhu Biao's younger brother, the most rebellious son in history

"Chief..." The merchant hesitated, "I only know his code name is 'Shadow', and I don't know anything else."

Zhu Kai nodded thoughtfully. "Okay, this information is valuable. I will consider your cooperation."

After the interrogation, Zhu Kai immediately convened an emergency meeting to report the intelligence obtained from the merchants. Zhao Cheng and other officials were shocked, but also admired Zhu Kai's methods.

"Your Highness," Zhao Cheng said, "We now have a clear goal and should take action immediately."

"That's right," Zhu Kai agreed, "but we have to be careful not to alert the enemy. I will send agents to various places to investigate, and at the same time strengthen the vigilance inside and outside the capital."

After the meeting, Zhu Kai came to the interrogation room again and faced the businessman. "The information you provided is very helpful, but I need more evidence."

The businessman nodded. "I understand, but I also hope you can keep your promise."

Zhu Kai smiled. "Don't worry, I won't break my promise. Now, you need to do us a favor."

"What help?" asked the businessman.

"We need you to write a letter to tell 'Shadow' that you have been arrested but are willing to continue working for them in exchange for the safety of your family." Zhu Kai explained.

The businessman thought about it and finally nodded. "Okay, I'll write it."

Zhu Kai left the interrogation room with satisfaction. He knew that this letter would be the key to luring the snake out of its hole. He ordered the agents to closely monitor the delivery process of the letter in order to track down the core members of the Shadow Guard.

A few days later, the businessman wrote the letter according to Zhu Kai's instructions and had the agent secretly send it out. Zhu Kai and his team closely monitored every move, waiting for the reaction of the shadow guard.

Sure enough, not long after, they discovered some abnormalities. The Shadow Guards began to move frequently, as if they were preparing for a certain plan. Zhu Kai immediately realized that this was a great opportunity.

"Brother Zhao," Zhu Kai said to Zhao Cheng, "We can't wait any longer. We must act immediately."

Zhao Cheng nodded. "I have prepared everything and am only waiting for your order."

Zhu Kai took a deep breath and made a decision. "Okay, let's proceed as planned. Remember, be careful and protect yourself."

"Don't worry, Your Highness," Zhao Cheng replied firmly, "We will definitely live up to your trust."

Zhu Kai stood by the window of the interrogation room, looking at the dimming lights of the capital, but his heart was calm. At this moment, he was carefully thinking about the next plan - how to lead the real person behind the scenes through the businessman. The cooperation of the businessman brought a turning point to the advancement of the case, but Zhu Kai knew that the real contest had just begun.

As night fell, there were few pedestrians on the streets of the capital. Only a few dim lanterns swayed in the wind, reflecting the outlines of rows of quaint buildings. Zhu Kai led a team of elite soldiers and quietly approached a secret base of the Shadow Guard in the capital. They moved carefully, trying to reduce the noise as much as possible to avoid disturbing the enemies hiding in the dark.

"Sir," one of the men reported softly, "everything is ready. Shall we start now?"

Zhu Kai nodded, his eyes firm, like the North Star in the cold night, guiding the direction. "Go ahead, remember, capture them alive first."

The action began, and Zhu Kai and his team quietly surrounded the small courtyard where the target was. Just as they were about to break in, suddenly, a burst of hurried footsteps came from the courtyard, and then a black shadow jumped onto the roof at a speed that was astonishing.

"It's 'Shadow'!" Zhu Kai's heart trembled, and he immediately issued a pursuit order, "Quick, follow me!"

Everyone quickly followed, and saw the black shadow flying between the roofs like a nimble nightingale, as if it knew the area very well. Zhu Kai followed closely behind, and he was agile, worthy of being an elite who had undergone rigorous training. The two of them, one in front and one behind, drew two intersecting tracks in the night, as if they were engaged in a silent contest.

"Master Zhu," the subordinate who followed closely shouted breathlessly, "This man is too cunning, I'm afraid we can't catch up with him!"

Zhu Kai didn't look back, but said firmly: "Don't give up, he can't escape!"

The pursuit lasted for a long time, and finally, in a relatively remote alley, "Shadow" stopped. Zhu Kai also arrived at this moment, and the two confronted each other a few meters away. The night wind blew gently through the alley, bringing up a fallen leaf, as if to accompany the upcoming duel.

"Are you Zhu Kai?" "Ying"'s voice was low and hoarse, and it was impossible to tell the gender. It was obviously deliberately concealed.

Zhu Kai nodded, his tone calm and confident: "Exactly, you are the one we are looking for?"

"Ying" chuckled, and the laughter was as crisp and cold as ice cubes colliding in water. "You are quite capable. You can chase here."

Zhu Kai was not shaken by the other party's provocation. He continued: "We have enough evidence. Now, you can surrender."

"Oh?" Shadow raised his eyebrows. "It seems you have done a lot of homework. But do you think you can catch me like this?"

As he spoke, "Ying" suddenly pulled out a short knife from his sleeve, and a flash of cold light instantly made the whole atmosphere tense. Zhu Kai's followers drew their swords one after another, forming a semicircle to surround "Ying".

"Shadow" looked around and sneered. "It seems that someone is destined to stay here tonight."

Zhu Kai frowned slightly. He knew that the man in front of him was not someone he could easily deal with. "We don't want to hurt anyone. As long as you put down your weapons, everything will be fine."

"Put down your weapons?" "Ying" seemed to have heard something funny, and laughed with disdain, "Do you think I'm here to surrender?" Before he finished speaking, "Ying" rushed towards Zhu Kai like a nimble leopard, and the short knife drew a silver-white arc in the air. Zhu Kai quickly dodged and commanded his men to launch an offensive.

A fierce battle ensued, with swords and sabers interweaving in the narrow alley, and every time metal clashed, a crisp sound was heard. Although Zhu Kai was highly skilled in martial arts, he was unable to get close to the "shadow" due to its rapid movement. The two sides fought back and forth, and the fight was indisputable.

At this moment, an accident happened. Taking advantage of Zhu Kai's unpreparedness, "Shadow" suddenly changed direction and ran to the other end of the alley. Zhu Kai immediately chased after him, but he knew that he had lost the best opportunity to catch him.

"Sir," the men cried anxiously, "he is running too fast. What shall we do?"

Zhu Kai stopped and took a few breaths, then said calmly: "Notify all checkpoints to strengthen patrols and not let him escape from the capital."

Although this operation failed to successfully capture the "shadow", Zhu Kai was not discouraged. He knew that the fight with the shadow guards was far from over, and this encounter was just the beginning. He would continue to track down until all the criminals were brought to justice.

After returning to the mansion, Zhu Kai immediately summoned Zhao Cheng and others to discuss the next action plan. Everyone agreed that although the "shadow" escaped, they had already figured out some of the other party's details, which was crucial for future actions.

"Master Zhu," Zhao Cheng suggested, "perhaps we can start from other channels, such as those businessmen who have been arrested and their accomplices, and perhaps we can find more clues from them."

Zhu Kai nodded in agreement. "Yes, we should make full use of the existing resources. At the same time, I will go to Hangzhou in person to see what the situation is like there."

Zhao Cheng heard this and said with a little concern: "Sir, Hangzhou is far away from here, and the situation there is complicated. Isn't it too risky for you to go there in person?"

Zhu Kai smiled slightly, his eyes gleaming with determination. "Brother Zhao, don't worry. I know what I am doing. Besides, this is also a good opportunity to learn about the situation on the front line."

When Zhu Kai and his party arrived in Hangzhou, it was early autumn. The air was filled with the faint fragrance of osmanthus, and the lake was sparkling, as if it was a mirror carefully arranged by nature, reflecting the shadows of the mountains in the distance. However, for Zhu Kai, this beautiful scenery could not calm his inner worries. Before leaving the capital, he learned that a series of incredible events had occurred in Hangzhou recently, and behind these events, it seemed that there was a force even more powerful than "shadow".

In order to understand the situation as quickly as possible, Zhu Kai decided to visit the local prefect first. The prefect's residence is located in the south of the city, surrounded by green trees and a quiet environment. The group walked along the stone road, and from time to time, servants in simple clothes hurried by. Their busy figures formed a sharp contrast with the tranquility outside the residence.

Entering the reception room, Zhu Kai saw the prefect, Lord Lin. Lord Lin was about fifty years old, with a kind face, but his eyes revealed a trace of fatigue. When he saw Zhu Kai, he immediately stood up to greet him, smiling: "Lord Zhu, you have come from afar, and you really bring honor to my humble home!"

Zhu Kai bowed and said, "Lord Lin, you are too kind. I came here for a business matter. I heard that your family has encountered some troubles recently?"

Lord Lin sighed, sat back in his chair, and his expression became serious. "Yes, things have been unsettled recently. First, several big merchants in the city had their goods stolen, causing heavy losses. Then, several officials disappeared from their homes for no apparent reason, and their whereabouts remain unknown to this day. What's even stranger is that all of this seems to be related to a place called 'Qingyun Tower'."

"Qingyun Tower?" Zhu Kai frowned, "This name sounds quite familiar."

"That's right," Lord Lin nodded. "It is said that it was originally a teahouse, but somehow it became a place where people from all walks of life gather. It is said that it not only sells tea, but also provides all kinds of information. There are even rumors that if you are willing to pay enough, you can find a solution to any problem there."

After hearing this, Zhu Kai felt that the matter was not simple. "Master Lin, can you send someone to take me to Qingyun Tower? I want to see it myself."

Lord Lin hesitated for a moment, but finally agreed. "Alright, but Lord Zhu, please be careful. That place is full of good and bad people. You must be on guard."

So, accompanied by two guards, Zhu Kai came to Qingyun Tower. This building is located at the end of a busy street. It looks ordinary from the outside, but it is a different world when you enter. The hall is exquisitely decorated, with famous calligraphy and paintings hanging on the walls, and a variety of tea sets on the table. The guests are either talking in low voices or drinking tea alone, and the atmosphere is particularly relaxed.

Zhu Kai looked around and found that the guests here came from all walks of life, including scholars, heroes, and even a few officials in official uniforms. He thought to himself that this was indeed a place where dragons and crouching tigers were hidden.

At this moment, a young woman in a blue shirt came over. Her steps were as light as a breeze in spring. "Sir, what can I do for you?"

Zhu Kai looked up and saw that the woman was beautiful and had a scholarly air. "Young lady, you have good eyesight," he smiled. "I'm new here and I heard that this is the most famous teahouse in Hangzhou, so I came here to taste it."

The woman nodded slightly and smiled: "Then you have come to the right place, sir. We have all kinds of fine teas here for you to choose from."

Zhu Kai nodded and motioned her to sit down and talk. "Miss, can you tell me, I want to inquire about something."

A hint of curiosity flashed across the woman's eyes, but she did not show any surprise. Instead, she smiled more gently and said, "Sir, please tell me what I know. I will tell you everything I know."

"Some strange things have happened in Hangzhou in recent days," Zhu Kai asked directly, "I wonder if the young lady has heard anything about it?"

The woman's face changed slightly, but she quickly regained her composure. "I have also heard a little about what you said, sir. However, these are just rumors, and it is difficult to tell whether they are true or false."

Zhu Kai keenly caught her instant change and confirmed his guess. "Miss, do you know if these things are related to Qingyun Tower?"

Hearing this question, the woman's eyes became obviously alert. She coughed lightly and her tone became cautious. "Why do you have such an idea, young master?"

Zhu Kai smiled faintly, his eyes were sharp. "Because, I heard that Qingyun Tower is not only a good place to drink tea and chat, but also an important hub for the flow of information. In this case, I believe that the young lady should know something about the big and small things in the city."

The woman was silent for a while, as if she was weighing the pros and cons. Finally, she sighed and seemed to have made some kind of decision. "Sir, you are right. Qingyun Tower does have some information to some extent. However, regarding the things you mentioned, I can only tell you that they are much more complicated than you think."

Zhu Kai was moved after hearing this. "What the girl means is..."

"Sir," the woman interrupted him, "I can help you gather more information, but please be careful. The water here is very deep. If you are not careful, you will fall into an irretrievable situation." (End of this chapter)