Early the next morning.
The Three Little Ones woke up early, prepared a carriage, and, accompanied by the Flower-Clothed Eunuchs, headed straight for the West Market.
Xiao Cui and her grandfather were also going to set up their stall in the West Market today, so they needed to confirm whether the Money Gang had taken Ankang Princess's words seriously.
Today was not a court day, so there were no road restrictions like yesterday.
The carriage went directly to the West Market via the shortest route.
The Three Little Ones didn't expect the West Market to be exceptionally lively from early morning, especially the breakfast stalls, which were doing booming business.
"Hmph, so there's a morning market in the capital after all."
After parking the carriage outside the West Market, they skillfully made their way to yesterday's stall and, from a distance, saw those two familiar figures.
Seeing Xiao Cui and her grandfather safe and sound, their three anxious hearts finally settled.
Xiao Cui, seeing Ankang Princess from afar, happily waved and greeted her.
"Miss, good morning."
Ankang Princess also smiled and nodded to the grandfather and granddaughter.
Seeing them safe, she knew her efforts yesterday hadn't been in vain.
The Money Gang had listened to her warning.
Xiao Cui, holding something in her hand, skipped out from behind the stall and handed the item to Ankang Princess.
"Miss, the rope knots you ordered yesterday are ready."
Ankang Princess looked at the three lifelike Little Black Cat rope knots in Xiao Cui's hand and was overjoyed.
She hadn't expected Xiao Cui to be able to weave the rope knots so well.
These were much more exquisite than all the other rope knots at their stall.
What Ankang Princess didn't know was that these three rope knots were made by Xiao Cui staying up all night, using their best materials.
Xiao Cui hadn't rested for a moment last night, just to make these three rope knots perfect.
They, the grandfather and granddaughter, had no way to repay Ankang Princess's life-saving kindness.
Therefore, Xiao Cui could only repay Ankang Princess with her skill in weaving rope knots.
Ankang Princess took the three rope knots, then picked up one and examined it carefully in front of her eyes.
Li Xuan also looked over curiously and found that it really did bear some resemblance to himself.
This was a cat-head shaped rope knot woven from black thin rope, with two small golden pieces as embellishments, forming the eyes.
In addition, there was a long colored rope attached, which could be tied to the wrist or around the neck.
Afterward, Xiao Cui also demonstrated to the Three Little Ones that the colored rope could even be detached, allowing them to just play with the cat head part.
The cat's mouth was slightly upturned, with a shy, shallow smile, carrying a hint of a mischievous look.
Li Xuan saw it and couldn't help but shake his head greatly.
"How could I be so lewd? Xiao Cui's craftsmanship isn't good enough!"
As a result, Ankang Princess and Yuer burst into laughter, each holding a cat rope knot, laughing hysterically, wiping away tears, and praising Xiao Cui's exquisite craftsmanship.
"Xiao Cui, you've woven this too well!"
"Especially the way you've captured the expression, it's simply lifelike."
Ankang Princess laughed without any princess-like demeanor.
Yuer, on the side, added:
"Our Li Xuan always has this smile when he's about to do something bad."
"Xiao Cui, how did you know?"
Xiao Cui, praised so much by Ankang Princess and Yuer, couldn't help but blush and, after a shy smile, replied:
"When I saw the cat in Miss's arms looking at those Money Gang people yesterday, it had this expression."
"Last night, when I was weaving the rope knots, I kept thinking of this smile, so I just wove it like that."
Upon hearing this, Li Xuan's eyes widened, and he cried out incessantly:
"Meow, meow! (Slander, she's slandering me!)"
"Meow meow! (This is blatant slander!)"
Seeing Li Xuan's reaction, the three young girls couldn't help but laugh even louder.
Xiao Cui's grandfather, who had quietly walked over, also couldn't help but show a silent smile at this scene.
After a while of playful banter, the Three Little Ones put away their respective rope knots.
Ankang Princess and Yuer directly wore them on their wrists, while Li Xuan secretly put his into the di hong bone ring.
It was easy to lose if he wore it, so he'd just take it out to look at occasionally when he remembered.
Then, Ankang Princess brought up the main topic:
"Xiao Cui, did the Money Gang people not cause you any trouble?"
Xiao Cui shook her head and replied:
"Speaking of that, I was just about to tell Miss."
"Today, not a single Money Gang member can be seen in the West Market; they've just disappeared as if into thin air."
"In the past, if you casually threw a stone into this West Market, you'd hit several people connected to the Money Gang."
Hearing this, the Three Little Ones all felt strange.
"The Money Gang has hidden away?"
The same thought popped into all their minds.
"Is it too early right now?"
Ankang Princess thought for a moment and continued to ask.
Xiao Cui flatly denied it.
"Miss, you don't know."
"Those people live in this West Market; after all, this is where they get the most profit."
"Look at this street; everyone who makes a living here has to pay tribute to the Money Gang, even the dancing Western Region Girl and performing artists."
"Otherwise, the Money Gang has plenty of ways to make their lives impossible."
After hearing these words, the Three Little Ones all nodded.
Given that, it was indeed strange that Xiao Cui and her family hadn't seen anyone from the Money Gang today.
It couldn't be that such a large gang was so scared by Ankang Princess that they no longer dared to show their faces.
"Is there a conspiracy? Or are they temporarily avoiding the limelight?"
Li Xuan showed a thoughtful expression.
He didn't believe the Money Gang had the ability to deal with Ankang Princess.
If the Money Gang was truly formidable and had connections in official circles, they should have roughly figured out Ankang Princess's identity by now.
A Imperial family princess; what underground gang would dare to mess with her?
Even if the Money Gang's influence was great, it was impossible for them to dare to oppose the authorities.
Considering this, avoiding the limelight was the most likely possibility.
Perhaps the Money Gang already knew that Ankang Princess was about to return to the palace.
At this moment, Xiao Cui continued:
"Oh, by the way, Miss."
"Because of yesterday's incident, the people on the street are also discussing it animatedly."
"That incident yesterday has probably spread throughout the capital by now."
"The Money Gang probably won't have the face to show up for the next few days."
As Xiao Cui said this, Ankang Princess also began to notice many people on the road constantly casting glances at her.
Those glances, though subtle, couldn't hide the immense curiosity of these people.
Previously, Ankang Princess had been worried about Xiao Cui and her grandfather's safety and had rushed directly here, so she hadn't noticed.
Now, as she gradually relaxed, she realized that the people on the street were all exceptionally interested in her.
After all, someone who could make the Money Gang suffer such a great loss was truly remarkable.
Don't be fooled by the fact that when Hall Master Tang Sha arrived yesterday, all those bystanders scattered like birds and beasts; in reality, they were all secretly watching what was happening on the street.
Especially the scene where Xu Lang defeated all the Money Gang members with his 'Twin Dragons Playing with a Pearl' move was even more impressive.
Afterward, Ankang Princess slowly approached the critically wounded Hall Master Tang Sha, and her disdainful and cold expression was witnessed firsthand by them.
"Miss, you wouldn't believe it."
Xiao Cui covered her mouth with a smile, then continued:
"Now you have many identities."
"Some say you are the young lady of a high-ranking official, others say you are a disciple from a reclusive martial arts sect or family on a training journey, and some even say you are a peerless master who has cultivated the divine art of eternal youth..."
"In short, there are many different opinions, and the identities are more outlandish than the last."
"If it weren't for the involvement of the Money Gang, I'm afraid the storytellers in the teahouses would be narrating this matter today."
Ankang Princess listened to this and couldn't help but feel a headache.
Li Xuan, on the other hand, smiled gleefully.
When traversing the Jianghu, one's identity is self-given.
Now it was good; Ankang Princess hadn't even truly stepped into the Jianghu, and she already had so many aliases.
When she went out to explore in the future, she wouldn't have to worry about not having enough aliases.
"Li Xuan, what are you smiling about!"
Ankang Princess irritably tapped Li Xuan's head, resulting in loud, resounding thuds, the crispness of the sound rivaling that of Niu Niu.
Ankang Princess knew Li Xuan's head was harder than a stone, and seeing him still gloating, she could only helplessly scratch his little head.
Li Xuan enjoyed Ankang Princess's caress and looked around.
On the bustling main street, people's gazes, intentionally or unintentionally, fell upon Ankang, but more often, they were filled with curiosity.
Mixed within were many complex emotions: gratitude, envy, worry, reverence…
Such feelings were numerous and varied.
But at least, it seemed everyone held no ill will towards Ankang.
It also appeared that no Money Gang informants were mixed in.
At least, Li Xuan hadn't discovered any yet.
"By the way, Xiao Cui."
"Have the officials from Changan County Yamen ever sought you out?"
Ankang asked.
Xiao Cui shook her head blankly in response.
Ankang lowered her head, a thoughtful expression on her face.
Ankang had said yesterday that she would go to Changan County Yamen today to see how the county magistrate would punish Lord Xiong for openly abducting a civilian woman.
However, as the victim, Xiao Cui had not been summoned, which suggested that her words had not been taken to heart.
Seeing Ankang deep in thought with her head bowed, Yu'er, who was behind her, spoke:
"Miss, could it be that they are waiting for the commotion to die down and then quietly close the case?"
"As the saying goes, 'Where there is no accusation from the people, the officials do not investigate.'"
"If Xiao Cui doesn't report the case, it would be understandable for Changan County Yamen to treat it as if nothing happened."
Yu'er came from a humble background; although she was sold into the palace very early, she had seen many such things when she was young.
These evildoers were very familiar with the rules.
For instance, regarding 'Where there is no accusation from the people, the officials do not investigate,' they fully exploited the 'no accusation from the people' part, burying many matters in silent darkness.
For them, solving the problem meant eliminating the person who raised the problem.
Ankang, reminded by Yu'er, also understood the key point.
But then, she showed a troubled expression.
However, at this moment, Xiao Cui proactively said:
"Miss, if you want me to go to the yamen, I will go."
"My grandfather's and my lives were saved by you, and this is my matter to begin with."
"If I don't go, who will?"
Seeing Ankang about to say something else, Xiao Cui shook her head and continued:
"We've already made mortal enemies with the Money Gang; if it weren't for your presence, Miss, they wouldn't have let us off."
"Anyway, it's already like this, so one more matter with Lord Xiong won't make much difference."
Xiao Cui's carefree attitude left Ankang unsure of what to say.
At this moment, Xiao Cui's grandfather also spoke from the side:
"Xiao Cui, go with Miss."
"Grandpa will wait for you here."
Xiao Cui's grandfather waved his hand, reassuring Xiao Cui to go.
The grandfather and granddaughter's optimistic attitude made Ankang wonder if they were just giving up.
But looking at Xiao Cui's bright, keen eyes, the Three Little Ones all realized that this was not a desperate surrender.
Perhaps only Xiao Cui herself knew.
When Lord Xiong, Hall Master Tang Sha, and the Money Gang, beings they could only look up to in daily life, were easily defeated by Ankang yesterday, the shackles that once bound Xiao Cui were also shattered.
Xiao Cui suddenly realized that the Money Gang was nothing more than that.
They would also speak politely, be courteous, and abide by the Great Xing laws…
They would also feel pain, fear, compromise, and swallow their grievances…
They would also die!
When Xiao Cui saw the arrogant Lord Xiong lying on the ground, his head bleeding profusely, and his lifeblood crushed underfoot.
When she saw that Hall Master Hall Master Tang Sha enduring humiliation, ultimately having no choice but to take that palm strike, and being beaten like a dead dog.
When she saw the Money Gang members scattered across the ground, heavily injured and dying, with cries of sorrow everywhere.
The world in Xiao Cui's eyes began to change.
She believed that she was certainly not the only one experiencing such a change.
The great mountain that had once oppressed them, leaving no room for resistance, had begun to silently waver.
Xiao Cui knew that from the moment she and her grandfather returned to the West Market to set up their stall, countless people had been watching them.
These people were all curious about the final outcome for the grandfather and granddaughter.
Since that was the case, let the ending be even more spectacular.
Xiao Cui's thoughts were simply like that.
Ankang, who had originally wanted to persuade Xiao Cui to think clearly, saw Xiao Cui's determined expression and silently closed her mouth.
Ankang smiled slightly and then said:
"Xiao Cui, when you're ready, come with us to the county yamen."
Xiao Cui nodded, saying without hesitation:
"I'm ready."
…
The carriage slowly drove towards Changan County Yamen.
Along the way, Xiao Cui recounted to the Three Little Ones the Money Gang's exploitation of them over the past few years.
The Money Gang was not foolish; they understood the principle of sustained profit.
They had clear rules for how much money to collect from performers, vendors, and shopkeepers.
That was a bottom line the Money Gang had spent many years exploring.
It wouldn't put you out of business, nor would it drive you to fight them to the death.
It was like boiling a frog in warm water, or cutting meat with a dull knife.
It wasn't a particularly clever method, really.
But the Money Gang simply played it with skill.
So skilled that the common people of the capital had long grown accustomed to the Money Gang's various rules.
Even in Baoning Ward, where Xiao Cui and her grandfather lived, the Money Gang's rules were evident everywhere.
Carriage services, inns, gambling dens, illicit brothels…
Any business they could get involved in, the Money Gang would.
For so many years, the Money Gang's rules had been maintained in the capital.
But rules always had moments of distortion.
Especially when those enforcing these rules were the most fickle creatures in the world.
Take Lord Xiong, for example: relying on having a brother-in-law who was a Hall Master, he found a small leader's job in the lucrative West Market.
But simply embezzling some money gradually no longer satisfied Lord Xiong's ambition.
Lord Xiong began to target some respectable women.
He would raise their stall fees under various pretexts, then force them to comply.
Those who were sensible would voluntarily send the women to him, and once Lord Xiong tired of them, the matter would be considered over.
Of course, Lord Xiong was not someone who cherished women; they weren't his own wives, so some were played to death or crippled.
In the past, there were people who, in a fit of rage, sought revenge on Lord Xiong, but all ended tragically.
Later, slowly, no one dared to resist anymore.
When Lord Xiong arbitrarily found excuses to raise the stall fees for Xiao Cui and her grandfather, the grandfather and granddaughter understood Lord Xiong's intentions.
But Xiao Cui's grandfather wanted to use money to beg Lord Xiong to be lenient, and as a result, all their savings from recent years were poured in, yet it still couldn't satisfy Lord Xiong.
It's understandable; Lord Xiong had a lucrative position in the West Market, so getting money was no longer difficult for him.
Once the desire for money was satisfied, Lord Xiong's desires continued to expand, which is why he began to target the respectable women of the West Market.
Xiao Cui knew that the matter could not be resolved peacefully, but the grandfather and granddaughter only had the skill of knot-tying, and they might not be able to make a living elsewhere.
Xiao Cui's grandfather was old, and he might not be able to protect Xiao Cui if they went outside.
Leaving the capital, getting rid of Lord Xiong, there would still be other Lord Tigers, Lord Leopards, Lord Wolves…
Moreover, whether they could escape the capital was another question.
In the past, some people targeted by Lord Xiong had tried to run, but soon after, they appeared in the mass graves outside the city, their deaths incredibly tragic.
Listening to Xiao Cui's description, Li Xuan's heart felt incredibly heavy.
And he also keenly noticed that Ankang's mood had become somber.
Li Xuan quietly looked up at Ankang.
Ankang's face was expressionless, and her hand, which had been stroking Li Xuan's, had stopped moving.
Li Xuan could understand Ankang's feelings at this moment, and he couldn't help but think to himself:
"Will Ankang be disappointed in such a world?"
But at this moment, Xu Lang, from outside the carriage, suddenly reported in a lowered voice through the curtain:
"Miss, someone is following us. Should we apprehend them now?"
Hearing this, a cold glint flashed in Ankang's eyes.
Li Xuan had never seen Ankang reveal such an expression before.