An Oriental Odyssey

The invisibility cloak could block light and hide people, but it could not block sound. Before Yuan'an's two hehes landed, Zhao Lanzhi had already heard them and swung his sword. Xiao Yu exclaimed causing Zhao Lanzhi to hesitate, Yuan'an quickly threw the cloak at him and flew away with Xiao Yu. 

    Zhao Lanzhi picked up the cloak that Yuan'an left behind: "Unexpectedly used a blocker!" With that being the case, he was even more reluctant to let it go and continued to chase after them. Yuan'an couldn't escape, she was terribly tired, suddenly she saw a pond in front of her, surrounded by a thick bush of reeds, she had no choice, she jumped into the water with Xiao Yu. The two sank into the shallow water, Yuan'an quickly snapped two reed poles, one for her and one for Xiaoyu, and they used these to breathe while she carefully watched the movement above from under the water.

    Before she could even take one breath, the constable arrived and was looking around carefully, Yuan'an was so angry that she bit the reed stick in her mouth: This man was like a hound, so hard to get rid of! Hmph, but right now he was in the light and she was in the dark. If he really dared to come into the water to catch her, then she will stab him and kill him! 

    Zhao Lanzhi didn't go into the water, but he took out two things from his sleeve. Yuan'an watched his mouth move from under the water. He spoke in a low voice, but every word clearly landed in her ears: "You who broke into prison to steal a prisoner listen well, do you think I can't catch you if you hide under water? You're not worried that I'm secretly planning something to catch you?  Well, I have saltpeter and kerosene in my hands. I am going to count to three, if you don't come out, I will set this reed pond on fire! I will boil you and that death row prisoner to death in there! It'll save me time!"

    Yuan'an heard it, Xiao Yu next to her also heard it and became scared, she was about to go up but Yuan'an tightly grabbed her wrist. 

    Zhao Lanzhi began to count, while counting, he opened the kerosene bottle in his hand and poured it into the water.

    He counted to three.

    Yuan An still didn't move, she shrank into a small ball nervously, waiting for him to ignite it.

    But Zhao Lanzhi poured the saltpeter in his hand and turned away.

    For a long time, there was no movement. When Yuan'an was certain the man had left, she finally emerged from the bottom of the water, coughed, removed her mask and her hair came loose as she gasped for breath.

    Xiao Yu, who was on the side, had just escaped from death and was still in shock. Seeing Yuan'an's long and thick hair, her ruddy apple face, Xiao Yu became even more surprised, she pointed at her and said, "You are actually a woman, and -"

    "I am your benefactor!" Ye Yuan'an said.

    Ye Yuan'an, the daughter of Lord Ye, the minister of household affairs, turned 17 years old this year.

    Lord Ye's original wife passed away when Yuan'an was born. Lord Ye was busy with government affairs, and her stepmother could also not handle the eldest Miss. So Yuan'an became more naughty and abnormal as she grew older. She does not like the female arts, she likes to play with swords and weapons,  she is unwilling to read or draw at home, instead, she prefers to wander around and make all sorts of strange friends of unknown origins. Ordinarily, she would be considered the most beautiful and lovely of girls, but she always likes to go about wearing men's clothing and she considers herself to be someone of the Jianghu, so she is always like a little grasshopper going about everywhere with vigorous energy.

**(Jianghu refers to the world of those who practice martial arts, bound by no kingdom and roam the world freely - think sects in Wuxia/Xianxia)***

    So Yuan'an rescued Xiao Yu, the death row prisoner from the prison, and took her back to her manor. She walked through several courtyards before reaching the woodshed next to the stable. Yuan'an's stable boy Shi Tou was waiting there. It was he who begged Yuan'an to rescue Xiao Yu. When Xiaoyu saw Shi Tou, she burst into tears and ran over: "I thought I would never see you again!"

    Shi Tou also cried: "If it wasn't for the righteousness of my Little Master, we would never have seen each other again!" The two of them were originally from the same village, they hugged each other and cried for a while, then they both kowtowed to Yuan'an and thanked her for saving Xiao Yu's life.

    Yuan'an did a good deed, she felt happy so she waved her hand and helped the two up: "The people from Luoyang County's police bureau were chasing us so closely just now, but in the end, I got rid of them. Since we got rid of them, it will be fine. Even if they beat them to death, they won't be able to find you here. So live here for now, after two days, when the matter has died down, I will send you two off!"

    Yuan'an went back to her room, the sky was already turning blue, she tucked herself into bed but couldn't close her eyes, remembering that she had just thrown off the head constable of the Luoyang County police bureau, she was very proud. She smiled sweetly to herself and said: "Still want to catch me? Tire you to death!" 

    It was said that Yuan'an's good dream had not even begun when she was woken up by the sound of knocking on the door.

    One of the family's head servants, Uncle Xia said from outside: "Little master, little master, hurry up, two officers from Luoyang county's police bureau are here to question someone!"

    Yuan An immediately sat up in bed, thinking that she must be dreaming, she bit the tip of her tongue, and it hurt. Still not believing her ears, she asked with a guilty conscience: "Uncle Xia, who did you say is here and what are they here to do?" 

    "To answer Little Master, it is the Luoyang county government's constable who has come to ask someone to ask questions with an official document."

    Yuan'an caused in her heart, but she had no choice but to get up and get dressed to go receive the guests. She did not expect that she would see this person so soon after closing her eyes: "Uncle Xia, you serve tea first and tell them I'll be there soon." 

    The night before, she had been too busy running and being chased, too busy fighting to pay attention to what the constable looked like. Now he looked so tall, his shoulders were broad, he was standing with his back facing the door with his head slightly tilted, he seemed to be looking at the painting hanging on the wall.  Yuan'an came in, his subordinate saw her, then he turned around and fixed his eyes on Yuan'an. Yuan'an immediately started to sweat, she guiltily averted her gaze and pointed to the painting on the wall: "What is it? Haven't you seen anything like it before? This painting was brought from beyond the great wall, look at the fine and detailed strokes on it. This is not just a painting, this is the cream of the crop, threaded with silk, it is more expensive than gold."

    The constable respectfully said: "Oh, I really haven't seen it before."

    Seeing his reaction, Yuan'an thought to herself that the constable was not able to recognize her now that she was dressed up well. She immediately thought to use this momentum, she put on a little airs and brought out the imposing manner of pampered young master from a wealthy family to scare this person away: "My father used to be an official outside the great wall, but the Empress recognized his worth and transferred him to Luoyang to be the assistant minister of finance, did you know? The minister is the eldest, my father's second eldest. By the way, I am his eldest son, Ye Yuan'an. You, who are you guys?"    "This lower official is Zhao Lanzhi, the head constable of Luoyang country's police bureau. This is my subordinate, Xiao Hu."

    "Hey, I don't who you are and what your name is." Yuan'an waved her hand, "I just wanted to ask one thing, how you from Luoyang county police dared to come to this minister's manor to look for someone for questioning? Do I look like a bad person to you?"

    Zhao Lanzhi remained respectful and polite: "Young master Ye is jesting, how does Young master Ye look like a bad person. Listen to me explain things carefully..."

　　What Zhao Lanzhi said were things Yuan'an had already heard from Shi Tou: It is said that there is a five-story large beautiful ship on the canal called "Qianduan Pavilion", it is the most popular and lively venue in the capital city of Luoyang. Every night, Qianduan Pavilion is filled with pleasure-seeking guests and the ship slowly sails down the canal for 30 miles. The guests drink fine wine and eat delicious food while surrounded by beauties enjoying the moonlit night. It is said that His Majesty, the Emperor also went to Qianduan Pavilion to have fun one time when the Emperor was not watching. 

　　The most famous among the countless beauties in Qianduan Pavilion was a dancer named Ruyue. Ruyue girl was flamboyant and graceful, and her dancing was unparalleled. How many princes and passionate guests have fallen at her feet and presented countless gifts just to be intimate with her. However, Ruyue was selling her talent not her body, she refused to prostitute herself and did not dally with anyone. However, being a beauty in a pleasure house, even if you want to live a clean and honest life, will others allow you to have peace?  

　　Half a month ago, on a dark and windy night, Qianduan Pavilion's assistant manager, Sun mama, heard that Ruyue locked her room and was not answering the door. With great difficulty, they finally forced it open, only to find Ruyue dead in the room!