"Alright, gather them all."
"What for?"
"Thoroughly investigate Changping Square," Zhao Ya declared decisively.
Shang Jingchuan was initially taken aback, but then he rejoiced, "Alright!"
When the summoned government officials and constables heard the news, their reactions varied.
Some were eager to try, some found it inconceivable, but most were afraid.
After all, the Four Seas Gang had been powerful for a long time, and they were just minor constables in the Capital Prefecture. How could they afford to provoke them?
However, Zhao Ya gave them a reassurance at this point.
"You have nothing to worry about. I’ll take the lead, and all you need to do is follow me."
Hearing Zhao Ya say this, the constables and government officials felt slightly reassured.
After all, if the sky fell, the tall ones would hold it up, and since even Zhao Ya had said this, they naturally had no objections.
Well, not all of them had no objections.
At least one person did.
Liu Qi’s face was pale, his heart was a mix of fear and anxiety, like a pot about to boil over.
Because if, as Zhao Ya said, they thoroughly investigate Changping Square, he would inevitably be affected.
And if his misdeeds were exposed, he might not even be able to keep his life.
With this in mind, Liu Qi had only one thought in his mind, which was to quickly pass the message out and have his subordinates destroy all the evidence first.
He took a chance, excusing himself to go to his room to pack, and then quietly went to the backyard, planning to go to the back kitchen to find someone he knew to pass the message out.
But just as he arrived at the back kitchen, before he could enter, he heard a light laugh from behind him.
"Isn’t Chief Liu going back to his room to pack things? Why are you suddenly at the back kitchen?"
Upon hearing this, Liu Qi froze in place.
When he turned around with difficulty and saw Zhao Ya standing behind him, he forced a smile uglier than crying on his face.
"I... I suddenly felt hungry and planned to come to the back kitchen to find something to eat."
"Oh, is that so? Then go ahead and eat."
After speaking, Zhao Ya showed no intention of leaving, but instead, stood there smiling at him.
Liu Qi inwardly cursed his luck, and could only brace himself to walk into the kitchen, grabbing a few buns and stuffing them into his mouth.
After swallowing the buns, Liu Qi was so choked he rolled his eyes.
Yet Zhao Ya merely chuckled.
"Alright, it’s getting late, hurry up and pack your things and get ready to leave."
In fact, it wasn’t just Liu Qi; Zhao Ya also secretly observed everyone to prevent someone from sneaking out to report the news.
It wasn’t until the afternoon, when everything was ready, that Shang Jingchuan personally led the team, with Zhao Ya accompanying him, and they led a grand procession towards Changping Square.
The whole way, it attracted everyone’s attention.
Because no one had seen such a spectacle before.
Dozens of constables and government officials were walking on the street led by a middle-aged man in official attire.
It looked like something major was about to happen.
Especially when people noticed the procession heading straight for Changping Square, they were even more shocked.
"Which prefecture’s constables are they?"
"Seems like from the Capital Prefecture!"
"Hiss, I recognize that young man, isn’t he the recently famous Young Hero Zhao, Zhao Ya? What’s he doing with that group?"
For a moment, discussions were abuzz.
Some sharp-minded people had already vaguely guessed something, and couldn’t help but feel a thrill of excitement.
Meanwhile.
Sheng Lianhua in Changping Square was also among the first to learn of the news.
"What? Zhao Ya and Shang Jingchuan are leading a group to Changping Square?" Sheng Lianhua was full of shock.
In recent days, Sheng Lianhua had also been uneasy.
Although Lang Songbai was dead, and his Qingjing Sea would be split between herself and Xiong Kun,
Sheng Lianhua felt no joy at all.
Because Lang Songbai died too miserably.
The sorrowful events caused Sheng Lianhua to feel a strong sense of crisis.
Because of this, she had tried several times to invite Xiong Kun to discuss matters, but Xiong Kun always excused himself, claiming an old injury had flared up, confining him to bed.
There was even one time Sheng Lianhua visited in person, but Xiong Kun still refused to see her.
This attitude left Sheng Lianhua, besides angry, feeling increasingly uneasy.
After all, when it came to whose hands were stained with the most blood, Sheng Lianhua was arguably at the forefront.
It didn’t usually show, but Zhao Ya’s sudden rise made Sheng Lianhua feel immense pressure.
So these days, she had been strictly ordering her subordinates to act cautiously, and had considerably restrained her exploitation of the brothel girls.
Yet unexpectedly, she still couldn’t avoid it, and it came so swiftly.
"Where are they now?"
"They’ve just reached the nearby marketplace, probably just a moment away."
Sheng Lianhua’s face was somber, gritting her teeth, "Quick, gather all subordinates, and be ready for battle."
"I don’t believe it. Even if Zhao Ya is arrogant, does he dare to kill all my people?"
At this time, Zhao Ya and his group had already arrived at the entrance of Changping Square.
Looking at the three gilded characters, Shang Jingchuan sighed, "I always thought this was a land of warmth and tenderness, but now I realize it’s all built on the bones of those wronged maidens."
Zhao Ya said nothing, simply watching silently.
"Let’s go. I hope today we can seek some justice for those anguished souls," Shang Jingchuan said.
When the procession entered Changping Square, the endless stream of pedestrians and pleasure-seekers on the street were taken aback.
Because it had been a long time since they had seen government constables and officials in Changping Square.
A sudden grand commotion like this, they were unclear about what it meant.
Just then, Zhao Ya suddenly stopped, raising a hand to point at a brothel by the roadside.
"Chief Liu, is this the brothel you run?"
Liu Qi shivered all over, then with great difficulty nodded.
"Yes!"
"I remember Great Yan has a rule that officials cannot engage in business, is that correct?"
Sweat appeared on Liu Qi’s forehead, he forced a smile, "Indeed, there’s such a rule."
Liu Qi really wanted to say what obsolete rule is this, nowadays in Great Yan who would still take this seriously.
But he dared not say so, and could only endure it.
At this time, the shopkeeper of Liu Qi’s brothel quickly came out, and upon seeing Liu Qi and Shang Jingchuan, was first stunned, then smiled obsequiously.
"Boss, are you planning to host a banquet for your colleagues? I’ll arrange it right away, the new batch of girls just arrived, all fresh and tender, I’ll arrange everything for you and the gentlemen in a moment."
If it were possible, Liu Qi really wanted to sew up the mouth of this subordinate of his.
This couldn’t even be described as stupid; it was simply devoid of any perceptive sense.
So just as he was about to reprimand him.
Unexpectedly, Zhao Ya smiled, then waved his hand, signaling Liu Qi not to make a sound, and then beckoned for the shopkeeper to come over.
"You said a new batch of girls just arrived, where did they come from?"
"Rest assured, sir, we only acquire the finest quality here, all from respectable families," the shopkeeper said boastfully.
"Oh? How could girls from respectable families end up in such a place?" Zhao Ya asked, smiling yet not smiling.
"You wouldn’t know, but there are many ways. Some are directly abducted, others are tricked into having their parents gamble, and as their debts pile up, they are forced to use their daughters to pay. Others are lured by sweet words, but all in all, once they enter our gates, these girls no longer belong to themselves."
"If we want them to live, they live; if we want them to die, they die. Therefore, they’re all obedient and do whatever they’re told."
With these tales recounted, Liu Qi’s countenance gradually turned to despair.
He regretted that he should not have promoted this distant relative to be the brothel shopkeeper just to save a few coins.
But now it was too late to say anything.
He could only listen, pale-faced.
Zhao Ya, however, smiled more broadly the more he listened.
"Is that so? Then can I see these girls? You see, my superior is rather particular; ordinary goods wouldn’t catch his eye."
"Not to worry, this batch is top quality, I assure you will be satisfied," the shopkeeper pledged, patting his chest.
He then invited Zhao Ya and others inside, whispering a few words to a subordinate.
This person accepted the orders and left.
Soon.
The tinkling of silver bells was heard, and then a group of girls was escorted out.