"Miss, look at this." Liu Ce respectfully handed it over.
Liu Rumei took it and glanced at it. "Wanlong Money House, they only do business with officials. How could a gang from Tianzhu Kingdom have their bank notes?"
"Miss, do you think it might be the reward the traitor received?" After hearing Liu Ce's words, Liu Rumei pondered and nodded slightly. "That would make sense."
As they were speaking, they heard hurried footsteps.
"Miss, there's someone outside claiming to be Yang Zhi, saying he has an urgent matter to see you."
What? Yang Zhi came looking for them so openly.
Liu Ce immediately bowed and said, "Miss, he's probably here to demand the person back."
Liu Rumei remained calm. "Go and find out what's going on first."
Liu Ce took his orders and went to the main gate.
Outside the gate of the Liu Mansion, Yang Zhi and Yang Bo were pacing back and forth. Behind them was a carriage, and Lado was sitting in it.
What did this mean?
Seeing Liu Ce come out, Yang Zhi stepped forward and cupped his fist. "Steward Liu, you've worked hard."
Liu Ce replied, "May I ask what brings you here so late at night!"
Yang Zhi sighed slightly. "My subordinates were ignorant and insisted on coming here to seek revenge. We rushed over to give you a heads-up."
This?
What kind of operation was this?
Liu Ce was a bit stunned.
Lado, who was in the carriage, also said loudly, "Steward Liu, it's my fault for not disciplining my men properly. My subordinates ran off secretly, I apologize for the embarrassment."
With both of them stating their positions, Liu Ce was unsure. Were they putting on a show, or had their subordinates really run off against their orders?
Thinking this, he cupped his fist. "Please wait a moment, I will go and invite my young lady out."
At this moment, Liu Rumei was already standing in the courtyard.
When Liu Ce came in and explained the situation, Liu Rumei clasped her hands in front of her chest and paced around the courtyard several times. Finally, she slowly raised her head.
She took the bank note out of her sleeve. "I think we should let this matter go. Return this to them as well."
"Miss? Should we ask?"
Liu Rumei shook her head. "Yang Zhi is a clever man. If there's something wrong with this note, he'll tell us even if we don't ask. If there's nothing wrong with it, asking will be useless."
Liu Ce took the bank note and went to the main gate. He cupped his fist at Yang Zhi and said, "To be honest, your people arrived just now. Fortunately, we were prepared. Please rest assured, your people are unharmed."
"Oh, and this bank note was found on one of your men. We are returning it in its original condition."
Yang Zhi took the bank note and looked at it. "Two thousand taels?"
He then handed the bank note to Lado.
Lado was also confused. "Second Brother, do you remember us having this bank note?"
Yang Zhi shook his head and turned to Liu Ce. "This really came from one of our men?"
Liu Ce nodded slightly. "It was a man with blond hair and blue eyes, with a small mustache, as thin as a monkey, and about your height."
Yang Zhi's mind immediately conjured up Batu's image.
Why him again?
Lado also looked confused. "Impossible, how could Batu have so much money!"
Liu Ce smiled calmly. "Then I wouldn't know. You'll have to ask yourselves!"
With that, he cupped his fist and turned back into the Liu Mansion.
Not long after, Batu and his men emerged dejectedly, one after another.
Seeing Yang Zhi and Lado outside the Liu Mansion, these men hung their heads in shame, standing there in silence.
Yang Zhi stepped forward and apologized to Liu Ce again. After they clasped hands, Lado and Yang Zhi led their men into a small alley nearby.
As soon as they entered the alley, Batu exploded.
Yang Zhi was the second in command, so Batu dared not provoke him. But he dared to provoke Yang Bo. He stared fiercely at Yang Bo. "Yang Bo, did you betray us?"
Before Yang Bo could speak, Yang Zhi stepped forward and reprimanded sharply, "Batu, haven't you embarrassed us enough? You've disgraced the Vermilion Bird Gang."
Batu was still persistent. "Second Master, you're being too biased. If he hadn't betrayed us, we would have already..."
Lado slammed a donkey cart, making the donkey tremble.
"Batu, stop being the accuser. I'll ask you, where did that two thousand tael bank note come from?"
As soon as Lado asked this, Batu was stunned. He instinctively reached for his chest.
This confirmed it. It seemed the two thousand tael bank note really belonged to Batu.
"Batu, this is our Vermilion Bird Gang's first time in Da Cang Country. What's the deal with this two thousand tael bank note from Wanlong Money House? You need to explain to everyone."
Batu stammered, "Master, it's like this. I was the gang leader for a few days recently, and this was for recruiting business for our brothers."
Yang Zhi smiled faintly. "Oh? Then tell us, what kind of business did you recruit?"
Batu didn't speak immediately but went over the plan in his mind. Finally, he puffed out his chest and roared to everyone, "Everyone, I know this is difficult. If you assassinate Liu Rumei, you'll earn five thousand taels of silver."
"Five thousand taels." Hu Lao Qi's men grumbled, then looked at each other and whispered.
After all, in those times, five thousand taels was indeed a considerable sum of money.
Even Yang Zhi was surprised. Batu had actually blackmailed this.
"Batu, aren't you going too far? We haven't even started the job for Liu Rumei's deposit, and you want to harm ordinary citizens. What is this?"
Batu was unyielding. He cupped his fists to everyone present and said loudly, "Brothers, I followed Third Master for so many years. Third Master is gone, and I am heartbroken. I know you might not believe me when I say we were harmed by Liu Rumei, but I, Batu, firmly believe this."
"Therefore, I firmly believe that this job will not only earn money but also avenge Third Master and our fallen brothers."
His speech was passionate and righteous.
Even Hu Lao Qi and the others nodded in agreement.
Yang Zhi now understood that if he didn't say something of substance, the members of the Vermilion Bird Gang might actually be swayed by Batu.
Thinking this, Yang Zhi stepped forward and said loudly, "Batu, speaking of Third Master, I'd like to ask you a couple of questions. Even if two people were to cover their retreat, why did Third Master and his two men die together, yet you were unharmed?"
"This, this...!" Batu stammered for a moment, then said, "Third Master charged ahead and was the first to be attacked by those two. But Third Master fought valiantly and shot down both enemies before he died."
Lado spat. "Batu, stop spewing nonsense. Brothers, tell me, in the dark, who would shoot someone in the head, and precisely hit Third Master's temple?"
"Who could have their temple blown off and still be able to kill two people?"
Batu continued to argue, "Third Master's rapid-fire crossbow could kill two people in an instant, this..."