Chapter 11 – Two Pieces Of News

While waiting for Mercury’s report, Fang Tinglan continued to stay at Madam Jingling Hua’s establishment instead of finding a proper hotel. This generous, yet abstinent guest roused her curiosity. When pestering Hai Lian for information yielded nothing, she even went so far as to ask the penniless author she so looked down on. The theatre had finally accepted Ahbri An’s draft and the man was currently busy frantically editing and revising said draft. His response was simple.

“Haven’t you met plenty of rich men with strange tastes?”

Madam Jingling Hua pondered his words, and felt he was right. She tossed the entire affair to the back of her mind. After all, she had a business to run; there wasn’t enough time in a day for her to waste any thinking about a tenant’s quirks.

Early on the fourth day, Mercury sent Fang Tinglan the requested information about Prince Qin Weiyu.

“Tomorrow there will be a banquet in Bai Niao District at house no. 17 along Yulan Street. The prince has been invited too,” Mercury said while yawning. The man had probably spent the evening indulging himself.

“In the evening, everyone will gather in the garden to watch fireworks. If you can find a way in then, you’ll definitely be able to meet the prince.”

“I’m sure you have a way to smuggle me in.” Fang Tinglan smiled, his tone confident.

Mercury grumbled before reluctantly acknowledging so. He handed Fang TInglan a red ribbon.

“If you go there now, a gardener will be waiting for you. Give the ribbon to him. Work the price out yourself.”

“Thank you.” Fang TInglan accepted the ribbon and handed the commission fee to Mercury.

“Still nothing on Fei Yi?”

Mercury held out his hands and Fang Tinglan understood.

“I’m leaving now, how about I drop you off?”

“No need.” Mercury pointed at the roof.

“I still need to go upstairs and finish my business with Hai Lian.”

“Tomorrow at 17 Yulan Street, Bainiao District, there’ll be a banquet. Herak from your list will be among the attendants.” Mercury’s information was nearly the same. Only the target differed.

Hai Lian had been exercising in the small piece of open space right outside his room. Hearing mercury’s words, he only hummed to indicate he’d heard. Pushing down with his hands, his body curved with a strange and unspeakable elegance.

“Anything special about this Herak?”

“Every time he attends a banquet, he’ll first stop by a food stall to eat before going home.”

Mercury emphasized the word “eat.”

Hai Lian understood his meaning and continued to ask.

“What is his carriage like?”

“Mo Yiguo style — the type that writes the owner’s name behind the carriage and has ugly doors with red handles that are also hard to open.”

Hai Lian stifled his laughter. If one didn’t control their breathing while stretching, it was easy to injure themselves.

“Anything else?” Hai Lian asked.

“Kui Lei was seen near the Black Boxing Ring by Hetao Lane. He was betting on a player known as ‘Wild Horse’.” Mercury took a couple steps back to avoid Hai Lian’s movements.

“But Wild Horse doesn’t fight often, so it’ll depend on his luck.”

“En… Anything else?”

“I think there’s something wrong1 with the Dongzhou person you brought along.” Hai Lian said.

Hai Lian stopped. He stood up, stretched his arms, and jumped a couple times before speaking.

“I know there’s something wrong with him.”

“How’d you meet him?”

“At sea,” Hai Lian answered. “His crew hijacked the Dufeng. I wasn’t able to defeat him and Hui Sha also died.”

Mercury sucked in a breath.

“And he didn’t toss you overboard?” He said incredulously.

“No. Rather, he paid me a large sum to help him assassinate someone, but didn’t tell me who that person would be.” Hai Lian looked at Mercury.

“The two of you talked for a fair amount of time last time. Did he tell you who?”

Mercury thought of the two people Fang Tinglan asked him to look into and hesitated.

“I’m not certain… He asked me to investigate two Dongzhou people — one was a prince and the other a general.”

“Quite expensive,” Hai Lian commented.

“Hai Lian,” The informant said worriedly. “You should be careful.”

“What’s there to be careful of; I’m only thinking of how to finish his commission as soon as possible and send him on his way,” Hai Lian said indifferently.

“As for who the target is, it doesn’t matter. It’s not like government officials and aristocracy are any different from the poor residents of our Mud District…”

“He also asked about you,” Mercury interrupted.

Hai Lian was struck dumb.

“Of course, I only told him some superficial information. I didn’t mention your sister at all,” Mercury hurriedly continued.

“Even if he were to ask other informants, he’d only get the same information.”

Hai Lian felt it was strange.

“Why would he ask about me?”

“He said he likes you.”

“Don’t bother with his bullshit.” Hai Lian smiled coldly.

“Of course I know that he’s lying, but if he only thought of you as a means to an end, why would he bother asking about your past?”

“I don’t know and don’t want to know… ” Hai Lian ran a hand through his hair, suddenly smiling.

“I don’t need to pay you for this information, right?”

“Hai Lian!”

Mercury furiously strode forward and grabbed Hai Lian’s arm, speaking with an increased urgency.

“Hai Lian, you saved me once and I genuinely consider you my friend. I don’t want to see you fall into some trap.”

His green eyes were filled with worry. Hai Lian’s expression slowly turned serious. The two stood staring for a moment longer, before Hai Lian finally nodded.

“Don’t worry, I won’t fall for any tricks. If he dares to trick me…” Hai Lian paused.

“Then I’ll make sure to kill him before he gets the chance.”

 

The negotiations between Fang Tinglan and the gardener went well. As long as he disguised himself as the gardener before the fireworks started, Fang Tinglan would be able to sneak into the garden. Before leaving, he coincidentally went to take a look upstairs. The little pirate’s door was firmly shut and only god knew where the person himself was. Fang Tinglan expressionlessly stood for a moment, straightened his collar, then turned and headed down the stairs.

Yulan Street was in the northwest corner of Bainiao District. Because of the remote location and beautiful surroundings, the west end extended directly to Yulan Harbor — where aristocracy moored their private ships — and the north extended towards mountain trails that led to the Tisu palace. Anyone that could afford a mansion here was naturally someone powerful and famous in Tisu.

When Fang Tinglan arrived, the attendees’ carriages passed him like a stream of water. They all drove towards the brightest area. In the shaded alleys, their call girls and thieves alike waited. Fang Tinglan even saw some familiar faces; they were all his neighbors in the Mud District. This was probably the huge opportunity he’d heard the girls talk about between his dreams and fitful sleep.

“Dongzhou fellow2, is your little friend still sleeping or something?” One of the girls also recognized Fang Tinglan and teased him between laughs.

Fang Tinglan wasn’t angered. He waved to the girl and continued walking towards the back door.

 

A/N: Fang Tinglan would like to say that this cannot go on, otherwise all of Jiumeng City will think that he’s impotent.

T/N: Changing “Oubuli” to “Ahbri”

1

something wrong: The way it’s written it could mean that Mercury thinks FTL is either crazy or suspicious.

2

fellow: they’re using a word that’s about as nice as ‘country bumpkin’