All the heavens begin with the love in the courtyard.

Seeing that the government was about to intervene, Guiwu and Master Bai panicked.

Seeing that the matter was getting out of hand and the Bai family was unwilling to pay even 30,000 taels, Guiwu was completely at a loss. He once again asked Bai Sanye to come out and talk to the Bai family thoroughly. If that didn't work, 10,000 taels would be fine too, it was better than nothing.

This time, however, the two went to a different teahouse. Bai Sanye carried the birdcage and looked around for a while. When he saw that no one was following him, he went up to the teahouse and entered the private room. Guiwu was the same as always. The tea and snacks had already been ordered, and he was just waiting for Bai Sanye to pay the bill.

Looking at the table full of pastries, Master Bai felt a pang of heartache and stepped forward, picking up an osmanthus cake and stuffing it into his mouth while grumbling in dissatisfaction.

"This is the fifth time already, Prince Wu. If it still doesn't work this time, I won't settle this score next time!"

Guiwu, feeling agitated, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and then spoke.

"If all else fails, I think ten thousand taels is fine. Let's get the money as soon as possible!"

Upon hearing Guiwu's words, Master Bai was displeased. While eating osmanthus cake, he mumbled something indistinctly.

"Ten thousand taels? Are you trying to fetch a beggar? I already contributed five hundred taels out of that ten thousand taels, so I'll only get five thousand taels in the end. I've spent almost a hundred taels on tea these past few times. Guiwu, let me tell you, don't even mention it if it's less than twenty thousand taels. You've worked so hard for so long, taking such a big risk, and the return is so low. Why should I pay for it?"

Seeing how excited Master Bai was, Guiwu asked with some confusion.

"Hey Bai Laosan, you're a member of the Bai family too. You should know when to stop. This matter has blown up so much now, it might be hard to clean up later!"

Master Bai paid no attention to what was being said, and showed absolutely no shame, speaking righteously and indignantly.

"Twenty thousand taels, not a tael less. Tonight, find a way to send a letter into the Bai residence and threaten the old man directly. Tell him that if he doesn't give you the money, you'll cut off one of that brat's fingers and send it to him. I'll then incite him a little, and this will definitely work!"

Upon hearing Bai Sanye's outrageous words, Guiwu stroked his chin and said that Bai Laosan's idea was good, and then indicated that this method was feasible.

The two discussed for another half an hour, this time about how to pay the ransom. In fact, they had discussed this matter at least five times.

After discussing it, the two stood up and, with Bai Sanye reluctantly paying for the tea for the fifth time.

The two walked out of the teahouse one after the other. Once outside, Master Bai looked around to make sure no one was there before preparing to go back. But suddenly, he stopped. Why did he have to hide when he met Guiwu? Nobody knew Guiwu was a kidnapper.

Master Bai slapped his forehead, cursing himself for being such a pig-brain. He picked up the birdcage, humming a little tune, and went home.

That night, Guiwu's men still delivered the letter to the Bai residence without a word, and the soldiers dozing at the gate were completely unaware.

The next day, the letter reached the old man again. This time, the old man hesitated. Should he give the 20,000 taels or not?

The letter Bai Jingqi sent to let his family know he was safe last time actually had a hidden meaning. There was no Morse code involved; he simply sent a letter home using an acrostic poem. Bai Jingqi was worried that his grandfather wouldn't understand it, so he wrote it so neatly. Back then, he and his grandfather often played this little game together; it was one of their secrets.

In his letter, Bai Jingqi only revealed that he was perfectly safe and that his family did not need to worry at all. As for the ransom, Bai Jingqi told his father to just give a token amount, about five to ten thousand taels would be enough.

After reading the letter, the old man had an idea in mind, which is why he asked for 10,000 taels. He didn't expect the kidnappers to be so impatient, asking for 50,000 taels, then 40,000 taels, then 30,000 taels, and now directly asking for 20,000 taels.

Although Bai Jingqi said in the letter that he was safe, the old man was still a little worried about his precious grandson. After thinking about it, he realized that 20,000 taels was within his acceptable range, and he was still hesitating whether to agree or not.

Seeing that the old man was still hesitating, the eldest brother finally spoke up, stood up, and said to the old man.

"Father, the kidnappers said they'd cut off Jingqi's fingers if we didn't pay. Jingqi is the hope of our Bai family. You can't just stand by and watch him die. As Jingqi's uncle, I'm willing to contribute 2,000 taels of the 20,000 taels. We'll deduct it from my share of the year-end bonus!"

The old man didn't reply to Bai Laoda's words, but snorted. The old man wasn't thinking about whether or not to give the money, but rather whether his precious grandson would be safe if he did.

Bai Wenshi and Bai Yingxuan, who had been eating and sleeping poorly for the past few days, looked haggard. Seeing that the old man was still not making a decision, and remembering the kidnappers' threats in the letter, the couple started to sob again.

Master Bai was so anxious he was practically cursing. He really hadn't expected that his old man wouldn't even spend 20,000 taels. This was completely different from how much his old man loved Bai Jingqi. He should have known better than to boast to Guiwu about how much his old man doted on his precious grandson.

Seeing that the old man was still hesitating, Bai Laosan finally couldn't hold back any longer, stood up and said to the old man.

“Father, this is your own grandson! You’re still hesitating. This is breaking the hearts of my eldest brother and second sister-in-law. As Jingqi’s third uncle, I feel heartbroken too. Here’s what we’ll do: I’ll add another two thousand taels to the twenty thousand taels ransom. I’ll personally handle the ransom payment. I will definitely bring Jingqi back safe and sound for my second brother and the others!”

Bai Sanye's domineering words immediately attracted everyone's attention. Bai Laoda and Bai Wenshi both looked at Bai Laosan. Everyone's eyes were filled with emotion. True friendship is revealed in times of trouble. Blood is thicker than water. This is what real brothers are like!

Old Master Bai, tugging at his white beard, finally made up his mind upon hearing his third brother's words, and then said in a deep voice.

"Alright, we'll pay the ransom of 20,000 taels. Boss, be careful with your actions. You take this money and have Third Brother go with you. Third Brother, you must bring Jingqi back to me safe and sound!"

When Bai Laosan saw that the old man had finally relented, he was overjoyed and tried to suppress his happiness. Although the money was being carried by the eldest brother, as long as it was handed over to Guiwu, he would definitely get his share. So he quickly nodded in agreement and solemnly promised that he would complete the task!

And so, the next day, Bai Laoda, carrying a cloth bag containing 20,000 taels of silver notes, and Bai Laosan carefully avoided the government officials. Finally, guided by Bai Laosan, the two walked towards the outskirts of the city. After walking for half an hour, they arrived at a chaotic residential area outside the city and stopped in front of a dilapidated little tea stall. The two carefully sat down.

Old Master Bai was still somewhat uneasy and asked Old Master Bai.

"Third brother, are you sure this is the place?"

Bai Laosan nodded and said.

"Don't worry, I've arranged everything. They trust me because I've relayed so many messages and I'm trustworthy. Brother, people have their own code of conduct, and these people all have their own rules. So once the money is paid, they'll definitely release the person. Don't worry!"

Boss Bai nodded worriedly, looking around at his surroundings.

Master Bai picked up the teacup on the table, not minding the mess, and drank it with relish. Of the 20,000 taels, although he had spent 2,500 taels, he had earned 10,000 taels in return, making a pure profit of 7,500 taels. With these 7,500 taels, he could take another mistress. Thinking of Xiao Guihua in Guihua Tower, Master Bai felt an itch in his lower body, an unbearable itch in his heart!

After a while, two people suddenly sat down next to him from the crowd. Once seated, they casually picked up the teapot and poured themselves tea. The two elder brothers, Bai Lao Da and Bai Lao San, exchanged a glance and remained silent, knowing that the person in charge had arrived.

Both men were wearing straw hats, their heads bowed, making it impossible to see their faces clearly. One of them picked up a cup of tea, drank it, and then slowly put it down, speaking leisurely.

Did you bring the money?

Upon hearing this, Boss Bai was startled and quickly sat up straight, also speaking in a low voice.

"Money for the person, we've brought the money!"

The newcomer snorted and said.

"I'll take the money with me. You all wait here. The child will appear in front of you in half an hour. Don't try anything funny, just give me the money!"

Upon hearing this, Boss Bai quickly gripped the bag of silver notes in his hand. Seeing this, Boss Bai the Third hurriedly said to Boss Bai.

"Brother, give them to them. This is the rule in the underworld: money first, then people. It's also to prevent us from cheating!"

When Boss Bai heard what Boss San said, his grip loosened a little. The man opposite him looked at Boss Bai's money bag, his lips curled into a smile, and he quickly reached under the table to signal to Boss Bai.

After hesitating for a moment, and seeing the encouraging look in the third brother's eyes, the eldest brother finally handed over the money bag.

The man took the money bag but didn't open it. He then stood up familiarly, turned around, and left. The remaining man looked around and, seeing that the first person had already disappeared into the crowd, stood up and also disappeared in a different direction.

After the person who withdrew the money left, Bai Laosan breathed a sigh of relief and happily picked up his teacup, saying to Bai Laoda.

"Brother, money is just an external thing. As long as Jingqi is alright, don't worry, everything is under my control!"

Upon hearing Lao San's words, Bai Lao Da felt much more at ease, but a trace of worry still lingered in his eyes.

Across from him, Bai Laosan was happily fantasizing about whether it would be Guihua Tower or Xiaoxiang Garden tonight. This life was simply wonderful!

Meanwhile, the kidnapper who had received the money quickly disappeared into the crowd. Soon, after turning around several times, he returned to his base, opened the door, and saw a group of people still playing dominoes, but he didn't see Bai Jingqi. The person who came immediately asked in confusion.

Where is the little brother?

No one turned their heads. One of them looked at the dominoes in his hand and said something.

"I'm busy preparing lunch in the backyard. The young man said that since this is a rare encounter, we should make this last meal a bit more elaborate. Fourth brother bought several chickens and ducks early this morning. By the way, fifth brother, have you received the ransom yet?"

Upon hearing that Bai Jingqi was killing a chicken, the visitor immediately dispelled his doubts and waved the money bag in his hand.

"We've got it all, 20,000 taels. We're just waiting for Prince to come and divide the money. Brothers, I think Prince doesn't intend to let that kid live. Can any of you persuade him later? This young man is a good guy. It's a pity he'd die here. Besides, we've gotten along quite well these past few days. It's not fair of him!"

The group of people playing Pai Gow looked at each other, and finally one of them threw down his Pai Gow and grumbled in dissatisfaction.

"I've never seen Prince Wu so ruthless before, why would he be so cruel to a child this time?"

Upon hearing this, everyone lost their appetite for playing cards, put down their dominoes, and began to chat about the matter.

The crowd discussed amongst themselves, and soon they reached a consensus: if Prince Wu was going to take action against Bai Jingqi, they should try to dissuade him first. If that didn't work, then Prince Wu would do it himself. It would be dirty money for him, and they would just take the ransom and leave the rest to him.

As they were discussing this, the back door was kicked open, and a child's voice rang out.

"Hey guys, make way! Dinner's ready! Dinner's ready! Sichuan-style braised chicken is here!"

As he spoke, Bai Jingqi came running over with a large plate of steaming hot rooster stew. He put the plate on the table and quickly breathed on it to warm it up, as it was a bit too hot to handle.

His bright, childlike smile warmed the hearts of all the grown men. Bai Jingqi called out to them.

"Uncles, please eat first. There's another dish, roast duck. I'll let it simmer for a while so you can try this Sichuan-style rooster stew, a rare find in the capital. It's a specialty of a Sichuan imperial chef. The Empress Dowager tasted it once and praised the rooster as excellent, wonderful, and crowing!"

Everyone burst into laughter at Bai Jingqi's words, and they all leaned closer to smell it. A pungent fragrance wafted over, and everyone swallowed hard!

The kidnappers weren't too picky. They quickly brought over stools and chopsticks, and six pairs of chopsticks were used to pick up pieces of chicken from the plate. One middle-aged man picked up a piece of chicken, took a bite, and found the chewy texture to be incredibly satisfying. He even noticed a unique aroma in the dish, which made his tongue feel a little numb, but the flavor was definitely good!

Seeing how much they were enjoying their meal, Bai Jingqi, with a bright, childlike smile, quickly stepped forward to pour drinks for them. Everyone praised Bai Jingqi as a good kid, and the scene was one of joy, harmony, and friendship.

But this harmonious scene was soon interrupted by someone. The person who came was none other than Prince Wu Guiwu. When he entered the room and saw that there were no guards around, and that they were eating and drinking lavishly, his anger level rose sharply. He walked into the room and shouted angrily at everyone.

"A bunch of good-for-nothings, all they know is eating and drinking!"

Guiwu's shout immediately silenced everyone. Even kidnappers have dignity. Hearing their boss scold them like that, the man who had just taken the money couldn't hold back any longer and stood up to speak.

“Prince Wu, we’ve finished everything you asked us to do. What’s wrong with us brothers having a little food and drink? The money is in the cabinet next to you. Count it yourself. We’ve worked hard for days. It’s time to treat ourselves. There’s no need to talk to us like this!”

Guiwu was overjoyed to hear that he had received the silver. He quickly opened the cabinet next to him and saw a cloth bag inside. He immediately took it out and opened it. Inside was a thick stack of silver notes, which made his eyes light up. He nodded in satisfaction and said...

"Now that you have the money, stop eating for a moment. There's still one thing to settle!"

As Guiwu spoke, he glanced at Bai Jingqi, who was pouring wine for everyone, and a flash of viciousness appeared in his eyes!

Everyone quickly understood Guiwu's meaning. They all looked at the poor little guy standing by the table, exchanged glances, and one of them took the lead and spoke.

“Prince Wu, I think we’ve already received the money, so let’s just let this matter drop. I think the young man is a smart man; he won’t tell anyone about you or me. Besides, the Bai family is a large and wealthy family; they wouldn’t care about 20,000 taels of silver, would they?”

Guiwu was carrying the money bag, clearly struggling internally. His hand gripped the bag tightly, but a sudden pain in his fingers brought him back to his senses. The viciousness in his eyes resurfaced, and he said menacingly.

"This matter must be dealt with today. I must kill that little brat. I must teach the Bai family a lesson!"

Seeing Guiwu's firm stance, everyone sighed in unison. One of them glanced at Bai Jingqi's pitiful little eyes and finally made one last effort, speaking to Guiwu.

"Prince Wu, for the sake of your brothers, spare this young man's life today. If that's not possible, how about we brothers each take half of our five thousand taels of silver?"

These words caused the others' expressions to change slightly, but in the end no one objected. Everyone looked at Guiwu again, waiting for his answer.

Guiwu struggled internally for a moment, but his ruthlessness surged up again. Without further ado, he addressed the group.

"I see now, you don't want to do it yourself, right? Fine, I'll do it myself this time. I hope this kind of thing won't happen again!"

The group exchanged glances, and several of them looked conflicted. In the end, none of them spoke again. They all stood up, walked to the side, and made way for Bai Jingqi.

Guiwu placed the money pouch on the cabinet, drew a dagger from his waist, his eyes filled with malice, and slowly approached Bai Jingqi, muttering something under his breath.

"Boy, I heard that the incident between your Bai family and the Zhan Prince's Mansion was your idea? I don't know where you got the secret from, but you must die this time. I've heard you're a reincarnated demon. Boy, I want to see if a demon's blood is red or green today!"

As Guiwu spoke, he took out a dagger and slowly approached Bai Jingqi.

Bai Jingqi, who was holding the wine bottle, seemed to be frozen in fear, standing there motionless until Gui Wu was still half a meter away from him. Then, Bai Jingqi smashed the wine bottle in Gui Wu's face and kicked Gui Wu hard in the groin with his short leg. Gui Wu screamed and fell to his knees.

In an instant, Bai Jingqi punched Gui Wu's wrist, which was holding the dagger. In the blink of an eye, the dagger was in Bai Jingqi's hand. He then used the dagger to slash Gui Wu's neck, and blood spurted out instantly. Bai Jingqi was already standing behind Gui Wu.

Before the pain in Guiwu's crotch had subsided, he suddenly felt difficulty breathing through his neck. He quickly covered his bleeding neck with his hand, and the pain and difficulty breathing overwhelmed him. He knelt on the ground, struggling desperately, but he could no longer speak.

Bai Jingqi, standing to the side, wore an innocent smile as he watched Guiwu twitch a few times on the ground like a freshly slaughtered chicken before finally lying still.