Water Margin: I am Zhu Biao

Cyclamen Restaurant, third floor.

The corridor was empty and eerily quiet, with only the occasional crackling of a candle flame popping its wick.

Zhu Biao tiptoed silently, making his way to the corner of the top-tier guest room before stopping.

Eyes scanned the surroundings, ears perked up, not missing any sound, and hands were busy disassembling the wall lamp shade.

His movements were very light, sweat was already beading on his temples, and he muttered a complaint under his breath:

"Damn, he really did all sorts of work."

Zhu Biao didn't want to meddle in other people's business, but he also didn't want to be dragged into an undeserved disaster.

The pedestrian on the roof that night was clearly after that damned Master Li. Whether it was assassination or theft, it was certainly no small matter.

The special clerk of the canal administration was a lowly but powerful official. If something really happened, Zhu Biao, as a fellow passenger, would also be implicated.

Detaining, questioning, verifying, and tracing – this whole process will take an unknown amount of time.

After all, Zhu Biao registered for the hotel using his real identity.

This shows just how important a plausible fake identity is. The biggest find from the previous raid on the black market was those thirty-odd travel permits.

After screening out those whose age and appearance were similar to his, and then fabricating and forging a few official seals, Zhu Biao could immediately transform into someone else.

For example, Ruyi's husband, Zhou Maolin.

This is extremely important for his upcoming trip to Tokyo.

After removing the lampshade, Zhu Biao quickly examined the candle, then took out a knife and made a diagonal cut on it, causing the wick to droop immediately.

He quickly put the lampshade back on, and seeing the cocoon paper covering the lamp blackened by the flames and wisps of smoke rising from it, he swiftly leaned the wall lamp against the beam in the corner of the wall.

A moment later, the lampshade caught fire, and the beam, which he had greased, was immediately set ablaze as well.

Only then did Zhu Biao slip back to his room as fast as he could.

"My lord, shall I call out now?"

As soon as she entered the room, she was greeted by Ruyi, who was guarding the door. Because of her nervousness, her voice was a little hoarse and cracked.

"Wait a little longer, until you can really smell the smoke, then go out and shout."

In the darkness, Zhu Biao subtly wiped the sweat from his forehead, steadied himself, and replied.

"it is good."

Ruyi responded in a trembling voice, then bit her lip and stammered.

"My lord, are you truly willing to redeem me?"

Just now, Zhu Biao saw that she was brave, quick-witted, and knowledgeable about officialdom, and on a whim, he promised to redeem her from her servitude.

Besides concealing his identity, he had another consideration: if he and Zhu Wu really met Lin Niangzi, they were both rough men, how would they get along with her?

Going a step further, if necessary, Ruyi can also act as a substitute for Lin Niangzi, substituting one thing for another.

"Um."

Zhu Biao nodded.

"However, I only have two hundred taels of silver on me, and I don't know if that will be enough."

Two hundred taels of silver was his bottom line. If it exceeded that amount, he would give up without hesitation and seek another way.

"That's enough!"

Ruyi couldn't help but cry out.

At this moment, the thick smoke from the corridor drifted into the room. Zhu Biao sniffed, took off his coat, and whispered in Ruyi's ear.

"It's time! Mess up your hair and clothes, and remember to shout that as you run downstairs!"

Yes~

Ruyi shuddered. The room was dimly lit, so Zhu Biao couldn't see her, but her cheeks were already flushed.

"Fire! Fire!"

In the dead of night, a woman's piercing scream suddenly rang out in the quiet inn.

Ruyi did even better than Zhu Biao had expected. She not only let her hair down and opened her dress, but also took off her shoes and socks and ran out barefoot.

Not only that, she also added her own dramatic touches, banging on the doors of other guest rooms with all her might.

"Help! Put out the fire!"

"Tsk, not bad acting. Two hundred and fifty taels isn't a bad deal."

Having just taken off his boots and undone his hair, Zhu Biao smiled slightly.

After a dozen or so breaths, the entire inn came back to life.

Shouts, rebukes, footsteps, and curses rang out almost simultaneously, interspersed with women's screams.

"Young Master Zhuang, are you alright?"

Zhu Wu rushed out of the room with disheveled hair, completely naked except for a short-sleeved undershirt, and carrying a knife in his hand.

"It's nothing."

Zhu Biao shook his head, grabbed a runner who was running past him, and coldly demanded:

"How is the fire? Can it be extinguished?"

The third floor consisted entirely of superior rooms, frequented by wealthy and influential guests. The waiter, not daring to be negligent, quickly bowed and explained:

"Don't worry, sir. The lampstand had simply collapsed and burned the pillar, but the fire is now out."

"The innkeeper said that since we have disturbed you distinguished guests, the room fee for tonight will be waived."

"snort!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Biao scoffed and loosened his collar.

"Your manager is quite sensible."

At this moment, a middle-aged man emerged from the east corner. He was stout, with three long tufts of beard under his chin, and a pair of narrow eyes that coldly scanned everyone in the corridor.

He wore a brocade undergarment and a dark purple sable cloak over his body.

The tip of a knife was faintly visible beneath the right hem of her coat, and her left hand seemed to be carrying something as well, but it was obscured by the fur coat and could not be seen clearly.

"My lord! Were you frightened?"

When the waiter saw him, he immediately ran over to greet him, and other guests in the corridor also bowed and spoke to him.

"Greetings, Li Zhuan Gou. Is the esteemed official well?"

Clearly, this man was none other than Li, the official in charge of the canal transport accounts. Damn it, we're both auditors, but look at his status and mine? I'm completely humiliated.

Zhu Biao cursed inwardly, only glancing at him briefly before moving away. Just then, Ruyi returned.

Her face was covered in cigarette ash and tear stains, and her once white little feet were now filthy and black, but her eyes were bright and full of life.

In her past nineteen years, she had never been so carefree as she was tonight.

"My lord, you're finally awake! I've been calling you for quite a while!"

Ruyi stood very close, her tone carrying a hint of worry, a touch of reproach, and a dash of self-praise—all perfectly balanced.

Zhu Biao took the opportunity to put his arm around her slender waist and affectionately stroked it.

"Hmm, I'm a little drunk from eating. Luckily you were quick-witted."

This scene seemed to catch the attention of Master Li, whose gaze swept over the scene briefly before shifting away.

"A crude country bumpkin, a lustful young man, nothing more than an insignificant nobody."

In an instant, he had already made up his mind about Zhu Biao.

"Ha, judging a book by its cover, all show and no substance."

Zhu Biao noticed the disdain in his eyes and made a judgment about this Mr. Li.

The next day, early in the morning.

Zhu Biao held a bowl of rice porridge and ate it without using a spoon, slurping it down.

"Young master, it's not that I'm deliberately making things difficult for you, but Ruyi is my darling, my top courtesan. You're joking to offer 120 taels to redeem her."

Opposite him sat a plump woman adorned with gold and silver, her eyes radiating contempt. She was none other than Hong Gu, the madam of Ruyi.

Clang!

Zhu Biao slammed the empty bowl down and wiped his mouth with his sleeve.

"Ha! You nineteen-year-old virgin, what do you want with her? If she hadn't saved me last night, I wouldn't have bothered to redeem her."

Before Hong Gu could refute him, he added another sentence.

"One hundred and twenty taels, not a single copper more, I won't pay!"

Zhu Wu suddenly leaned closer, tugged at his sleeve, and whispered:

"Young master, this much money is enough to buy a dozen donkeys and mules, and marry several young maidens. I'm afraid the master will scold you for being wasteful again."

"Stop talking nonsense and get out of here!"

Zhu Biao was furious and kicked him.

Hong Gu's eyes flickered, and she slightly bowed her head:

"Young master, don't be angry. Ruyi is indeed a bit older, but she comes from a wealthy family, is literate, and knows the classics and history."

"What good is it!"

Zhu Biao abruptly interrupted.

"Her face was lifeless, and she lay on the bed like a dead fish. Damn it! The more I think about it, the more I feel cheated. I'm not going to redeem her."

"Zhu Wu, give him five taels of silver for the night and that's it!"

After saying that, he made a move to get up, but was stopped by Hong Gu.

"No, let's discuss it some more."

Of the five taels of night money, two taels went to the cyclamen, five mace to the wine maker, and one tael to Ruyi herself. In reality, she only received a mere one and a half taels.

Compared to 120 taels, the price difference is nearly a hundred times, which she naturally cannot accept.

The key is that Ruyi was bought by her a year ago, and last night was the first time a customer stayed overnight. Honggu has already planned to sell her to a brothel for at most a hundred guan.

That's a string of cash, which, at the current exchange rate, is worth about fifty taels of silver.

At this moment, Zhu Biao lost his temper and pushed her away.

"What the hell are we discussing, you old bastard? Zhu Wu, pay up and get out of here!"

"Yes, young master."

Zhu Wu chuckled in response and reached into his coat.

Snapped!

Just then, a crisp sound came from inside; it was Ruyi, who had knocked over her teacup.

"My lord, I know I was wrong."

As dawn broke, a sedan chair pulled by two mules drove along the official road leading to Daming Prefecture. Inside the carriage, Ruyi looked ashamed and said...

"Oh, tell me, what did you do wrong?"

Zhu Biao raised an eyebrow and glanced at her.

"I shouldn't have deliberately knocked over the teacup."

She glanced quickly at Zhu Biao's face, then continued:

"What you said, sir, was not from the truth; it was merely to intimidate Hong Gu."

"Heh~ 140 taels, that's not too expensive."

Zhu Biao smiled noncommittally, then suddenly leaned closer to Ruyi and said teasingly:

Do you know why I redeemed you?