The Kingdom That Never Sleeps CH 109 All For The Sake Of Profit
Having lived for over thirty years, Xiao Lü recently found himself plagued by bad luck, as if all the good fortune of his earlier life had been completely spent.
Originally, he had gone to great lengths to curry favor with the Second Prince, Yelü Shege—hosting elaborate banquets and buying famous paintings as gifts. His efforts seemed to be paying off, and the prince had begun to take notice of him. Yet, overnight, everything changed when Yelü Qin was injured in an assassination attempt. From then on, the Second Prince had no time for a minor figure like Xiao Lü and cast him aside.
Flattering someone is a skill not everyone can master.
Despite his repeated attempts to please Yelü Shege, the prince shut his doors and refused to see him.
Xiao Lü grumbled, “What rotten luck! If it weren’t for Qiao Jiu’s son falling ill suddenly, preventing him from meeting the prince and causing the prince to vent his anger on me, would I be in this mess now?”
As he ate breakfast, Xiao Lü grew increasingly irritated, finally flapping his sleeves in frustration. “From now on, I, Xiao Lü, will have nothing to do with that Qiao Jiu!”
Before his words had fully landed, a servant entered and reported, “Master, that tea merchant Qiao Jiu is here again!”
Xiao Lü fumed, “He dares show up again?”
The servant hesitated and said, “Master, Qiao Jiu has been waiting outside every day. Today, he’s already been standing at the gate for an hour, and he brought many gifts. He also said…”
“What else did he say?”
“He said he won’t leave unless he sees you today.”
Xiao Lü sneered, “He’s just a merchant. If I don’t want to see him, then I won’t. Tell him to get lost!”
“Wait,” said Xiao Lü’s trusted shopkeeper suddenly. After a moment of contemplation, the shopkeeper advised, “Master, that’s not the best approach. Qiao Jiu is a businessman. His daily visits are likely because he offended you and wants to mend things to continue doing business with us. May I ask, Master, how much do you dislike Qiao Jiu? Would you consider partnering with him again, or do you never want to see him again?”
Xiao Lü snapped, “I never want to see him again. He ruined my plans—I wish he were dead!”
The shopkeeper smiled shrewdly. “Then you should meet him. If you refuse to see him, he’ll only lose the opportunity to do business with us, but he can still partner with others in Xijing Prefecture. If you truly despise him, why not pretend to reconcile, lure him into a deal, and then stab him in the back?”
“Brilliant idea!” Xiao Lü turned to the servant and ordered, “Bring Qiao Jiu in.”
Qiao Jiu entered with his servant, carrying a heap of gifts. Upon seeing Xiao Lü, he bowed deeply and said apologetically, “I am sorry, Mr. Xiao. Please don’t be angry with me.”
Feigning magnanimity, Xiao Lü smiled and said, “Oh, no need for such words. I was merely venting my frustration. Upon reflection, it was wrong of me to take it out on you. Please don’t hold it against me, Brother Qiao.”
Qiao Jiu smiled and insisted, “Mr. Xiao, please accept these gifts. Only then will I be at ease.”
The two exchanged knowing glances and smiled in unison.
“Care to join me for breakfast?” Xiao Lü offered.
“With pleasure,” Qiao Jiu replied.
At the dining table, Qiao Jiu appeared cautious, as if still worried about Xiao Lü’s temper. Xiao Lü felt disdain for his timidity but maintained a facade of generosity and pretended to be completely at ease. After the meal, Qiao Jiu left behind the gifts and departed with his servant. They agreed that at the start of the following month, Qiao Jiu would supply tea leaves, which Xiao Lü would sell through his shops.
After Qiao Jiu left, Xiao Lü ordered the gifts to be stored in the warehouse. They were fine items, and there was no need to refuse them just for the sake of plotting against Qiao Jiu.
Watching Qiao Jiu’s departing figure, Xiao Lü flashed a sinister smile, unaware that upon Qiao Jiu’s return to his residence, Su Wenyun greeted him and asked, “Did he accept everything? Did Xiao Lü suspect anything?”
Qiao Jiu replied respectfully, “Yes, daren. Xiao Lü noticed nothing unusual.”
Su Wenyun’s pale face curved into a faint, wry smile. “Another fool.”
Three days later, Xiao Lü was at home reviewing the accounts for the past six months with his shopkeeper when a servant rushed into the study, shouting, “Master, news just came in—the assassin has been captured!”
Startled, Xiao Lü stood up abruptly. “Captured?”
The servant nodded. “You instructed us to closely monitor the situation with the assassin. We’ve just learned that the Left Chancellor has apprehended the culprit and is escorting him to the prefectural office for interrogation.”
Overjoyed, Xiao Lü exclaimed, “Finally! That damned assassin—he couldn’t have come at a worse time, ruining my plans! Prepare some gifts. I’ll go visit the Second Prince and congratulate him on this happy event.”
The shopkeeper smiled and said, “Congratulations, Master. Your luck has turned—you’re bound to rise to great heights.”
Xiao Lü laughed heartily.
Since the assassination attempt, Yelü Shege had been too preoccupied to entertain visitors, and Xiao Lü had been turned away each time. Now, with a legitimate reason to visit, he could resume his efforts to ingratiate himself with the prince.
His spirits lifted, Xiao Lü had a servant help him change into formal attire while he pondered how best to flatter the prince when they met. Just then, he heard the clamor of hurried footsteps outside. Curious, he stepped out of his room, only to see an armored soldier kick open the gate to his courtyard, sword in hand.
Shocked, Xiao Lü demanded, “Who are you? How dare you trespass on private property?”
The soldier sneered at Xiao Lü’s frightened expression and asked coldly, “Are you Xiao Lü?”
Bewildered and wary, Xiao Lü replied, “Yes, I am. Since you know who I am, you should also know that I’m a relative of Left Minister Xiao Zhen. Surely, this is some kind of misunderstanding?”
The soldier paused briefly, then burst into laughter. “A misunderstanding? You’re exactly the one we’re here to arrest! Men, bind him and take him to the Second Prince!”
Panic swept over Xiao Lü like a freezing tide. As two soldiers tied him up, he began struggling violently and shouting, “I’m loyal to the Second Prince! Who are you? How dare you frame me?”
Without a word, the soldier stuffed a rag into Xiao Lü’s mouth, silencing him.
Bound hand and foot, Xiao Lü was dragged to the prefectural office.
Upon entering the hall, he frantically looked around for Xiao Zhen, but the official was nowhere to be seen. Instead, seated at the head of the hall was Yelü Shege, dressed in luxurious blue robes, gazing at him with a chilling smile—one that sent shivers down Xiao Lü’s spine.
Desperate to plead his innocence, Xiao Lü could only emit muffled sounds through the rag in his mouth.
Yelü Shege lowered his eyes and said with a calm, eerie tone, “Since you’ve come, it’s only proper to give a greeting gift. Chalu, cut off his left hand and present it to me.”
“Understood,” Chalu replied without hesitation.
Xiao Lü's eyes widened in disbelief as he saw a burly man walking toward him. With a metallic clang, the man drew the saber from his waist.
At that moment, Xiao Lü suddenly recalled the horrifying tale of how Yelü Shege once cleaved a male courtesan in two with a single stroke for displeasing him.
In the next instant, searing, excruciating pain tore through Xiao Lü’s body.
News of the captured assassin spread rapidly throughout Xijing Prefecture, soon reaching the ears of Xiao Zhen, the Left Minister. Initially, Xiao Zhen was delighted—now that the assassin was caught, he wouldn’t have to leave at dawn and return late every day, tirelessly searching the city for the culprit. However, within the hour, a government worker rushed in with shocking news: Xiao Lü had been arrested as the assassin’s accomplice by none other than Yelü Shege!
Xiao Zhen’s face turned deathly pale as he shouted, “Nonsense! How could Xiao Lü possibly be involved with the assassin?”
The government worker, looking helpless, replied, “It’s true, daren. After the Left Chancellor captured the assassin, he tortured him severely, and the assassin confessed that Xiao Lü was his accomplice. He claimed that Xiao Lü helped him hide and had already sent the secret letter out of Xijing Prefecture. Not long after confessing, he managed to poison himself and died on the spot.”
Xiao Zhen slumped into his chair, speechless. “How could it be Xiao Lü…”
Xiao Lü was equally baffled. He had no idea why the assassin had falsely implicated him as an accomplice!
Over the course of a day and a night, Xiao Lü was subjected to relentless torture, leaving his body bloodied and unrecognizable.
He lay sprawled on the ground like a lifeless piece of flesh. When Yelü Shege approached, Xiao Lü trembled uncontrollably, instinctively trying to crawl away. Yelü Shege, famed as one of the most handsome princes in the Liao royal family, now appeared more terrifying than a demon in Xiao Lü’s eyes.
Yelü Shege’s dark eyes remained fixed on Xiao Lü. After a moment, he smiled, crouched down, and asked gently, “Are you the assassin’s accomplice?”
Xiao Lü shook his head frantically, his hoarse voice rasping like stones scraping against the ground. “I-I don’t know the assassin, Your Highness! I’ve been framed!”
Yelü Shege sighed. “But the assassin pointed you out in front of everyone. Whether it’s true or not doesn’t matter anymore. Tell me—who is your mastermind?”
Xiao Lü, on the verge of madness, screamed, “I didn’t do it! I didn’t do it!”
Yelü Shege’s expression turned icy as he commanded coldly, “Speak. Who’s behind this?”
Xiao Lü stared at him in a daze, utterly lost.
Suddenly, Yelü Shege smiled again, this time with an unsettling gentleness. He reached out and patted Xiao Lü’s face, his hand coming away slick with blood. In a soothing tone, he said, “Your mastermind is Yelü Ding, Grand Preceptor Yelü Ding. Remember that name.”
In the dim, damp cell, the sound of dripping water echoed. Yelü Shege’s voice, soft and persuasive, continued, “Remember him, and I promise you a swift death.”
Xiao Lü’s mind went blank, as though his soul had left his body. He laid there, mouth agape, staring vacantly at Yelü Shege. The prince repeated the name “Yelü Ding” over and over again by his ear. After what seemed like an eternity, Xiao Lü let out a guttural roar, like a wild beast in despair. Then, all at once, he fell silent and said, “The one behind me is Grand Preceptor… Yelü Ding.” As he finished speaking, tears rolled down his face.
With Xiao Lü’s confession, Yelü Shege immediately ordered a raid on his residence. Sure enough, incriminating evidence was found in the storeroom.
Upon hearing the news, Xiao Zhen nearly fainted and collapsed onto his bed, gravely ill.
The next day, an unexpected guest arrived at his residence. The servant led Qiao Jiu inside to see Xiao Zhen, who glanced weakly at him and said coldly, “You seem to be a friend of Xiao Lü?”
Qiao Jiu fell to his knees and began wailing, "Please, daren, spare my life! Save me!"
Xiao Zhen was taken aback. "What nonsense are you spouting, you Song merchant?"
Through his sobs, Qiao Jiu said, “Daren, have you not heard? This morning, Xiao Lü confessed and revealed his mastermind. But not only that—he even falsely accused me and implicated you, claiming that we were both in on it, acting as his accomplices!"
Xiao Zhen shot upright from his bed like a startled fish, his plump body slamming into the headboard, causing him to cry out in pain.
"Are you telling the truth?"
"It's absolutely true!"