A flying thief, also known as a wall-scaling thief, is a burglar with nimble hands and feet, and agile movements, who can scale walls and rooftops as if walking on flat ground.
Tonight, under the cover of a dark and windy sky, a flying thief has appeared within the mansion of Prince Zuo Xian of the Great Yan Kingdom.
The masked flying thief, clad in black, observed the side wall of the mansion for a moment before throwing out a grappling hook to secure it. With a powerful grip, they scaled the high wall. After a brief pause atop it, they flipped over and entered Prince Zuo Xian's mansion, their movements exceptionally agile and swift.
Where is she in that room?
The masked flying thief was, of course, Zhou Fugui... Zhou Fugui mused to himself, hiding in the shadows beneath the eaves, gazing at the rows upon rows of tall houses.
Murong Huiying had led the Fiery Camp to force their way into Pijin City for Zhou Fugui, and had gone to Ten Thousand Spirit Mountain to seek the Grand Tutor of Great Yan for his sake. Zhou Fugui felt he could never repay this kindness.
At the same time, Zhou Fugui was immensely puzzled. Why hadn't Murong Huiying visited him in prison? And why hadn't she come to see him after his release? Since Murong Huiying wouldn't come, Zhou Fugui decided to find her. Upon finding her, he had three intentions: first, to understand the reasons; second, to confess his affair with Xiao Qing and seek leniency; and third, to end the romantic entanglement between himself and Murong Huiying.
With their paths clearly diverging like distant mountains, why should Zhou Fugui cling to Murong Huiying and thus delay her life?
A clean break would be beneficial for both of them.
As it was, Zhou Fugui, being an inmate awaiting banishment to Xuelin City, could not openly enter Prince Zuo Xian's mansion. The previous day, Zhou Fugui had tried to seek an audience, but before he could even announce his name, he was driven away by the mansion's guards and doormen. Thus, in his desperation, Zhou Fugui had no choice but to disguise himself as a thief and infiltrate the mansion in the dead of night to find Murong Huiying. He no longer cared about the consequences of being discovered.
"Clang... Clang... Clang..."
"The weather is dry, be careful of fire!"
Just then, the sound of a night watchman's drum, striking at a slow, then fast rhythm, echoed from nearby. An old night watchman, carrying a gong and a wooden clapper, walked slowly towards Zhou Fugui's position, beating his watch.
Seeing someone approaching, Zhou Fugui rejoiced. He used the shadows under the eaves to slowly move closer to the night watchman.
The night watchman was still unaware, sleepily beating his watch as he walked. When the old man drew near, Zhou Fugui lightning-fast extended his right hand, seized the watchman's right arm, and twisted it forward, forcing his right elbow upwards. Zhou Fugui then took half a step back with his left foot, twisted his body to the right, and simultaneously used his left arm to forcefully press down on the watchman's left joint, causing both the left wrist and elbow joints to bend backward, rendering him immobile.
Zhou Fugui then conveniently delivered a light kick to the back of the old man's right leg, causing the watchman to involuntarily drop to his knees. Zhou Fugui swiftly stuffed a piece of rag into his mouth.
With a "clang!", the bronze gong slipped from the night watchman's hand, emitting a clear sound.
Zhou Fugui had subdued the old man with lightning speed.
Zhou Fugui's grappling and combat skills were unmatched in this world. Therefore, even a burly man or a skilled martial artist would be unable to resist him when ambushed, let alone this old night watchman.
The sound of the gong hitting the ground immediately made Zhou Fugui alert. He glanced around, saw no one approaching, and then, carrying the night watchman and the gong, he retreated into the shadows beneath the eaves.
"Mmmph mmmph mmmph..." The old man, once subdued, his eyes wide with extreme fear, looked at Zhou Fugui and made muffled sounds.
Generally, night watchmen in the mansion patrolled in pairs, or even in groups of three or five. However, the old man's companion had been suffering from an upset stomach that night, constantly confined to the latrine. This was why the old man was on his own tonight.
It wasn't the first time he had patrolled alone, and it had always been uneventful. But tonight, something unexpected had happened. There was a thief in the mansion, and he had captured the old man.
The old man was filled with regret. Why hadn't he eaten the two catties of fatty mutton the prince had rewarded him with before starting his rounds? To die now, wouldn't he be a famished ghost?
"Sir, do not be alarmed!" Zhou Fugui, seeing the old man's ghastly appearance, found it amusing. He said to him in a low voice, "I am merely asking for directions. If you cooperate truthfully, you will come to no harm."
The old man felt a little more at ease, nodding repeatedly to indicate his willingness to comply.
"Where is Princess Ziyue's residence?" Zhou Fugui cut to the chase, without further preamble.
Princess Ziyue? The old man was shocked by the question and stared blankly at Zhou Fugui, showing no reaction.
Could he be a lecherous rogue? the old man thought to himself. If he were to violate Princess Ziyue and then it was discovered that he had guided him, wouldn't that be disastrous?
In his rage, Prince Zuo Xian would surely flay him alive and his family would be implicated.
Zhou Fugui seemed to grow angry. He curled his index finger and tapped a joint on the old man's body, then whispered, "Do you dare to be dishonest? You will suffer greatly."
The old man felt a sharp, piercing pain in his joint. Visibly, sweat trickled down his face.
Unable to bear the intense pain, the old man pointed towards a row of houses on the right.
"Is it within the wall or outside? Nod twice for within, once for outside," Zhou Fugui asked, as the place the old man indicated had an inner wall.
The old man nodded twice.
Stupid thief! the old man cursed inwardly. The noble Princess Ziyue would naturally reside within the courtyard walls, wouldn't she? Not out with the servants and maids?
"The larger room, or the smaller one? Twice for larger, once for smaller," Zhou Fugui inquired further.
The old man was speechless, but at this moment, he couldn't speak anyway. He nodded twice at the question.
"Bang!" Zhou Fugui knocked the old man unconscious, dragged him into the bushes to hide him, and then melted back into the darkness.
......
"Rustle... rustle... rustle..."
Upon finding Murong Huiying's residence, the flying thief Zhou Fugui crept stealthily along the rooftops.
Although Zhou Fugui moved stealthily, his feet on the tiled roof still made faint noises. If a master of the imperial guards were present, they would surely detect it.
Got it!
As Zhou Fugui walked on the rooftop, he saw a faint light ahead. It was the light from inside the room, shining through a large piece of glazed tile on the roof. Zhou Fugui rejoiced, moved to the glazed tile, and intended to observe the movements inside the room.
Faint singing could be heard from within.
"Crash!"
"Ah!"
"Plop!"
For some reason, perhaps due to the roof's disrepair, when Zhou Fugui stepped onto the glazed tile, it collapsed. Zhou Fugui let out a cry of agony and fell into the room.
......
"Princess, your bath is ready."
"En," Murong Huiying nodded and walked to the wooden tub inside. She thoughtfully reached into the tub to test the water temperature.
An unusually large wooden tub stood against the wall. It was already filled with steaming hot water. Floating on the surface were dozens of fragrant leaves and flower petals. As the steam rose, a rich fragrance permeated the entire room, filling it with a delightful scent.
Murong Huiying stood by the tub. A maid named Yu Xiao began to help her undress, saying, "Princess, you seem to be in low spirits today. Do you have something on your mind? Can your servant share your worries?"
Murong Huiying glanced at Yu Xiao and said, "You little minx, even if I had worries, how could you possibly share them? Besides, I have nothing. Don't let your imagination run wild."
Unless I could capture that annoying person and beat him soundly, then my worries would be eased, Murong Huiying thought to herself.
Once her clothes were removed, Murong Huiying's flawless, snow-white body was revealed, making one's blood surge. She was perfectly proportioned, with a full bust and a slender waist. Her graceful form, coupled with her captivating beauty that could make fish and geese fall from the sky, was truly breathtaking and enough to make one forget to eat. It wasn't just men who were captivated; even Yu Xiao, a woman, was mesmerized at the sight.
As the saying goes, whose jade bones and icy skin can compare? She is peerless, surpassing even the snow in pride.
"What are you looking at? Go now. Do not enter without my permission!" Murong Huiying said to Yu Xiao with a glare.
Yu Xiao had served Murong Huiying since childhood, and their relationship was a blend of mistress and companion, one of close intimacy.
"Hee hee..." Yu Xiao chuckled and retreated outside, gently closing the door.
Murong Huiying slowly stepped into the bathing tub. The clear water rose to her chest.
"Mmm..." Murong Huiying closed her eyes, tilted her head back, and let out a sound of extreme comfort.
"As white as mountain snow, as bright as the moon in the clouds. I heard you had two minds, so I have come to part ways. Today we meet over a cup of wine, tomorrow by the ditch. Wandering by the imperial ditch, the water flows east and west. Sorrowful, so sorrowful, no need to weep for marriage. I wish to find a devoted heart, and never to be separated until old age. How slender are the bamboo poles, how glistening are the fish tails! A man values honor and integrity, what need has he for money? " Murong Huiying then softly began to sing a Han Yuefu folk song.
Her singing was beautiful and mournful, capable of bringing tears to the listener's eyes.
Little rogue, I shouldn't have saved you back then, and I wouldn't have this endless trouble. Little rogue, why were you so impulsive? You didn't wait for me to return. Little rogue, you stole my heart, why then did you disappear? After your release from prison, why didn't you come to see me? After all, I am a woman... Murong Huiying's heart was filled with a thousand knots of emotion.
I will kill you, you faithless man, the next time we meet! Murong Huiying vowed fiercely in her heart.
"Crash!"
"Plop!"
At that moment, the glazed tiles on the roof collapsed, and a dark "object" fell down. By sheer coincidence, it landed directly into the bathing tub, splashing water everywhere.