RPAGF Chapter 48 Old Age Teahouse
Chapter 48 Old Age Teahouse
Fuquan practically tumbled and crawled into the study.
The door was pushed open with a "bang," hit the wall, and bounced back. Fuquan didn't care about that and ran to Yin'e in three steps.
"Tenth Master! Tenth Master! We've met again! It's the same teahouse, Batu and Gao Mengyuan, they just went in a little while ago!"
Yin'e was looking at several documents that Yin De had brought when he heard this and suddenly looked up, his gaze sharpening.
He didn't rush to speak, but instead folded the materials in his hand and stuffed them into his sleeve.
The two met again at the same teahouse.
Fuquan overheard it there last time, but he couldn't hear what was being said because of the wall.
This time it's different. He has "Overheard," and as long as you're close enough, even the thickest wall can't block it.
"Let's go." Yin'e made a quick decision, strode to the cabinet, and disguised himself.
Looking at himself in the bronze mirror, he looked exactly like a small merchant who had come to the city to do business.
"Let's go out through the side door," Yin'e ordered, picking up a folding fan from the table.
The two of them left the mansion through a side gate, one after the other, and turned into the alley. They wandered through several streets and lanes.
Fuquan led the way, his steps quick and light, glancing back every now and then to make sure they weren't being followed.
Yin'e followed behind him, head down, hat brim pulled low, only half his face showing.
The Lao Lai Teahouse is located in the busiest section of Qianmen Street. It is a three-story building with upturned eaves and corners. Above the door hangs a plaque with black background and gold characters, the characters of which are vigorous and powerful.
Two waiters in clean robes stood at the entrance, greeting guests with smiles.
Fuquan did not go through the main gate, but instead led Yin'e through a narrow alley to the side gate.
The side gate is inconspicuous and is for people who deliver vegetables or dump swill, but Fuquan has already familiarized himself with the terrain in the past few days.
Go in from here, walk through a narrow passage, and you can go up to the private room on the second floor without disturbing the people in front.
Yin'e took out a small piece of silver from his sleeve and stuffed it into the hand of a waiter guarding the side gate.
The shop assistant, seeing his ordinary clothes, initially wanted to stop him, but as soon as he got the money, he immediately beamed, stepped aside to let him pass, and even helped to lift the curtain.
The two went up to the second floor.
Fu Quan pointed to a private room at the end of the corridor and said in a low voice, "Tenth Master, that's the room. They've been inside for about fifteen minutes and haven't come out yet."
Yin'e glanced at the private room, then at the one next to it.
The two rooms are right next to each other, separated only by a brick wall.
He nodded, walked to the door of the private room next door, pushed it open, and went inside.
The private room was small, with a square table and four chairs. The window facing the street was half open, and you could hear the noisy hawking from the street.
Yin'e sat down at the table and said to Fuquan, "Go and call the waiter to bring two pots of tea, the best of the best. Tell him we have something to discuss, and he shouldn't come in to disturb us unless necessary."
Fu Quan responded and turned to leave.
A moment later, a waiter brought in two pots of tea and several plates of snacks, set them out courteously, and then asked, "Do you gentlemen have any other requests?"
Yin'e waved his hand, and the waiter tactfully withdrew, gently closing the door behind him.
The room fell silent.
Fuquan stood to the side, looking at the wall and then at Yin'e, a hint of worry on his face.
"Tenth Master, this servant was eavesdropping in the next room last time. The wall is very thick, and we couldn't hear anything."
The servant stuck the wall for fifteen minutes, his ears turned red, but he didn't hear a sound.
Would you like to move to the room next door? That room is still available…”
Yin'e raised his hand, interrupting him.
"I have my own way," he said, adding, "Don't interrupt, just sit there and don't make a sound."
Fu Quan opened his mouth, as if to say something, but then swallowed it back.
Yin'e moved the two pots of tea on the table to the side to make room, then stretched out his right hand, palm up, and made a thought.
A white light shone from his palm, summoning "Overheard".
His gaze fell on the pages of the book, and he used his hand as a pen to write the two characters "Batu" in the blank space.
The light on the page flickered a few times, and then lines of text appeared:
[Target of surveillance: Borjigit Batu]
[Current Affection Level: 15.3 (Note)]
[Eavesdropping range: 10 meters. Clarity is average; can penetrate a thin door.]
Fuquan watched as Yin'e gestured to himself, wondering what he was doing.
But she wisely kept quiet and watched him perform.
Without hesitation, Yin'e immediately tapped Batu's name.
In an instant, two clear voices rang in his mind.
He recognized a voice; it belonged to Batu.
Rugged and deep, with the unique hoarseness and wildness of the grasslands.
He hadn't heard the other voice before, but he could tell it belonged to a seasoned veteran.
Sharp and smooth, with a deliberately ingratiating tone, but beneath that ingratiation lies a sinister scheming.
Yin'e pricked up his ears, taking in every single sound.
Batu's voice rang out first, tinged with impatience: "Master Gao, I've thought about what you mentioned last time."
"What does Your Highness think?" Gao Mengyuan's voice was unhurried, as if to say, "The Crown Prince sincerely wants to be your friend."
"Friends?" Batu scoffed, his tone laced with disdain. "Is this how the Crown Prince makes friends—by letting me lose tens of thousands of taels at the gambling table?"
"Your Highness is joking. In gambling, there are winners and losers. How can you blame others?"
Besides, weren't all the bets you lost your own? Who forced you to?"
Batu remained silent for a moment.
"Alright, alright," his voice grew even more impatient, "Let's not talk about that. I'm asking you, that... opium, can you still get any?"
Yin'e's heart sank.
Longevity paste.
That's a euphemism for opium.
He had read in historical records that some people in the Kangxi era were already smoking opium, but it was mainly used as medicine.
Judging from Batu's tone, it was clear that he didn't use it for medical treatment.
Is he smoking opium? And is he addicted?
Gao Mengyuan's voice rang out again, this time with a hint of a smile: "Your Highness is joking. What you want, I can get it anywhere."
The finest white clay, imported from the West, is extremely pure; one bite and even a god would lose his balance.
If you want it, I'll have it delivered to your residence tomorrow.
"It's not a gift." Batu's voice was a little tense, as if he was holding back something. "I want it now."
Yin'e frowned. Now? In broad daylight, in a teahouse?
Gao Mengyuan seemed taken aback for a moment, then laughed: "Is the young master... having an urge?"
Batu didn't speak, but Yin'e heard a rapid panting sound, as if someone was trying to hold back something.
"Ointment is easy to obtain," Gao Mengyuan's voice returned to its unhurried tone, "You can have as much as you want."
The beautiful girls at Zuixianglou are no problem either. If you want to go, I'll have someone arrange it, and I guarantee you'll be satisfied.
The money spent at Juxianju is nothing to worry about. Whatever you spend here will be recorded in the Crown Prince's account.
He paused, then changed the subject, his tone turning sinister: "But Your Highness, the Crown Prince has already shown such sincerity, shouldn't you also show some sincerity?"